Poll roadmap timelines set

call for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West, among others issues.
The negotiators last night confirmed signing the agreed timelines.

Minutes obtained by The Herald show that the parties agreed to immediately lobby for the removal of the illegal sanctions and for the re-engagement Committee to be re-activated.
“Sadc to implement its numerous resolutions on Zimbabwean sanctions, in particular the resolution from the Sadc Summit held in Windhoek in August 2010,” reads part of the minutes.
Sadc will determine the timeframe.

The parties established a committee to pursue re-engagement with the West when the inclusive Government was formed in February 2009.
The committee is made up of the negotiators, but has failed to achieve positive results due to the reluctance by the West to remove the sanctions.

Zanu-PF negotiator and Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa confirmed that they had signed the election roadmap timelines.
“We have signed the document and tomorrow (today) we will be submitting it to the three principals and the facilitator,” he said.

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MDC negotiator Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga also confirmed the signing of the document.
“We signed the document on the agreed timeframes and we also came up with other copies that will be presented to the principals and the facilitator.
“The timelines that were set are for the issues that we are in agreement,” she said.

MDC-T representative Mr Elton Mangoma said: “We have signed.
“We have put timelines on the things we have agreed on.”
He however, refused to comment further saying he had to first brief his principal.

According to the minutes, the parties agreed that the timeframe to finalise the constitution-making process would be determined by Copac.
They however, indicated that the draft constitution would be brought before Parliament within 60 days of the referendum.
On elections, the parties agreed that the delimitation of constituencies and gazetting of polling stations be done in terms of the constitution.

They also agreed that the Presidential proclamation of the election dates be done in consultation with the Prime Minister.
The negotiators also agreed that the enactment of agreed electoral amendments would be done within 45 days from yesterday.

Voter education and mobilisation for voter registration would be done in 30 days while voter registration and preparation of a new voters’ roll would be done in 60 days.
Inspection of the voters’ roll and production of the final voters’ roll would be done in 45 days.

On rule of law, the negotiators also agreed that: “There will be meetings of the principals with the Attorney-General, Commissioner-General of the Police, heads of other security and intelligence institutions to ensure full commitment to operate in a non-partisan manner consistent with the GPA and the timeframe is to be determined by the Principals.
“Put in place or enhance the mechanism and framework to ensure accountability of the Police Commission and the Public Service Commission and compliance with Article X111 (1) of the GPA.”

On freedom of association and assembly the principals would meet with the Commissioner-General of police to discuss the matter.
The negotiators would also meet with the Commissioner-General of police within 30 days from yesterday.

However, the negotiators failed to agree on staffing of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, security sector reforms, allegations of state-sponsored violence and the deployment of security forces in the country.
They also disagreed on the MDC formations’ call for enactment of an Act of Parliament regulating the operations of the CIO.

Zanu-PF argues that: “This issue is neither a GPA one nor an election issue and is being raised as an attack on the institution.
“The issue falls to be resolved in the constitution-making process.”

Zanu-PF also rejected calls by the MDC formations to amend the Public Order and Security Act, saying it was already done in 2007 by all the political parties through negotiations.
The parties also disagreed on the issue of monitors with MDC-T calling for the presence of Sadc and African monitors six months prior to and six months after the elections while the MDC calls for the implementation of the Sadc Organ Troika’s resolutions made in Livingstone, Zambia, in respect of Sadc-appointed officers to be deployed in Zimbabwe to work with Jomic.

Zanu-PF however, says the issue should be done in accordance with agreed amendments to the Electoral Act.

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