Zuma Stands Up to Mugabe at Summit

SW Radio Africa (London)

Tichaona Sibanda

13 June 2011

South African President Jacob Zuma on Sunday reportedly got into a verbal confrontation with Robert Mugabe, after the ZANU PF leader challenged him over the ‘inaccuracy’ of the Livingstone Troika resolutions.

Mugabe and his delegation had lobbied hard for the Summit to reverse the findings of the March Troika meeting in Zambia, that for the first time sharply criticised the ageing leader for the crackdown on his political opponents.

During his 45 minute address to the Summit in Johannesburg Mugabe sought to paint Zuma as a mediator who ‘misrepresented’ facts during the Livingstone summit, whose report was endorsed by the Troika on 31st March.

SW Radio Africa is reliably informed that at some point during Mugabe’s presentation, Zuma interjected and told him he does not manufacture things.

‘My reports are based on things that are happening in the country, based on facts,’ Zuma reportedly told Mugabe, who failed to convince the Summit to backtrack on the Troika resolutions.

The Johannesburg Summit went on and ‘noted’ the decision of the Organ Troika in Livingstone, dealing a major blow to ZANU PF who had wanted the resolutions thrown out altogether.

The Summit also resolved that the Troika would appoint a three member team of officials from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique to join the facilitation Team. The team will work with Zimbabwe’s Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) to ensure monitoring, evaluation and the full implementation of the GPA.

But the regional leaders also appeared to soften their language towards Mugabe, urging him to work with his partners in government to create an environment conducive to elections and to speed up the implementation of the GPA.

They used diplomatic language in their communiqué, unlike the harsher language used in March, which called on him to end political violence against his opponents.

The wording of the Johannesburg communiqué has also generated a lot of confusion regarding the use of the word ‘noted’ instead of ‘endorsed.’

ZANU PF’s interpretation of the communiqué is that the Summit did not endorse the Troika resolutions and they were only ‘noted’, while both the MDC formations are claiming the Summit ‘endorsed’ the Zambia decisions.

Contacted to comment on this issue, Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma’s international relations advisor, told us the communiqué was clear, in that the Heads of State agreed with the Troika resolutions.

‘Whether you use noted or endorsed, it means the same. As far as the Summit is concerned the Troika report presented in Zambia by President Zuma has now been fully endorsed by SADC,’ Zulu said.

Asked to explain further why the communiqué’s wording was ambiguous, especially on its decision to endorse the Troika resolutions, Zulu remarked; ‘The problem is people try to create problems out of nothing. The leaders used noted because it is the language they felt like using on that day. If people want to be honest they will tell you what happened during the meeting and what was agreed and what was not.’

A legal expert said; ‘SADC can only note and encourage the Troika to continue as they have done. I do not see how they (ZANU PF) will wriggle out of this one though noted and endorsing is splitting hairs. What should be said is that SADC did not reject the Troika report.’

It remains to be seen if Mugabe and ZANU PF will adhere to SADC’s recommendations. The ZANU PF leader however told the state media on Monday that he welcomed the outcome of the Johannesburg Summit.

Welshman Ncube, President of the smaller MDC faction, confirmed that Zuma’s report on Zimbabwe was accepted and endorsed. He added that SADC appealed to the three parties to move with urgency and speed, to conclude the outstanding issues in the GPA and electoral roadmap, before the next SADC summit in August.

The electoral roadmap was also endorsed, though the parties still have three issues to iron out – security sector reform, changes to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the best method of overseeing elections. ZANU PF wants ‘observers’ for the next poll while the MDC formations want monitors.

Observers can watch but can’t do anything, while monitors have the mandate to question certain issues and make recommendations to the electoral commission.

Welshman Ncube said; ‘Overall we are satisfied with the results of the Summit. We always knew it would not be the fireworks anticipated by some because for most issues we knew the parties had already agreed on issues.

‘The task at hand has been for us about implementation of what has been already agreed, not reinventing the wheel. Our hope is that there will be a clear focus on the implementation’.

The MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai said they were pleased that the SADC summit adopted the resolutions of the Troika in Livingstone.

‘The adoption of the facilitator’s report is particularly important for Zimbabwe as it identifies ZANU PF as the offending party in the inclusive government. We welcome the unequivocal adoption of the idea of a clear roadmap to free and fair elections.

‘This involves the completion of all the steps necessary for the holding of free and fair elections including the finalisation of the constitutional reform process, and the removal of all state-sponsored violence,’ the party said in a statement.

Dewa Mavhinga, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition regional director, said the people of Zimbabwe should claim victory from what transpired on Sunday. He said SADC leaders have maintained their position taken in Zambia, and are fully behind Zuma.

‘While they have said the right things, the challenge remains that of implementation. We wait to see ZANU PF’s reaction, it may continue on the path of defiance. From this communique it is inconceivable that elections will be held in 2011,’ Mavhinga said.

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