Zuma And Zimbabwe Leaders End Meeting

Harare – March 18, 2010 -South African Presdient Jacob Zuma has said Zimbabwean parties have agreed to a package of measures that will see to it a full implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) as per the decision of the SADC Troica meeting in Maputo last year.

Zuma said this in a vague statement at the end of his official two day working visit to Zimbabwe on Thursday, where journalists were not
given an opportunity to ask questions.

“I have had fruitful discussions with all the signatories to the GPA, their negotiating teams, leading Zimbabwean personalities and other
key stakeholders. I am very encouraged by the spirit of cooperation displayed by the leaders and all the parties,” said Zuma at the end of
his official visit.

Zuma met with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara on Wednesday before meeting the members of the negotiating teams from the three political parties.

“I believe the implementation of this package will take the process forward substantially,” said Zuma without elaborating.

He said all the three principals have instructed their negotiating teams to attend to all outstanding matters when they meet on 25, 26
and 29 March as well as give a report to the facilitator by the end of the month.

“I will present a comprehensive progress report to the Chairperson of the SADC Troika (Mozambican President Armando Guebuza) of Mozambique,” he said.

Zuma also met with individuals who are at the centre of the negotiations, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono, Attorney
General Johannes Tomana and MDC treasurer general and Tsvangirai’s choice of deputy minister of Agriculture Roy Bennett.
It was not immediately clear why Zuma called the three gentlemen to the negotiations but speculation was rife that three political parties
were agreeing on possible concessions and exit packages for either Gono or Tomana.

The unity government has stabilised Zimbabwe’s economy to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. But a dispute between Tsvangirai and
Mugabe over how to share executive power, senior appointments and security sector reforms is holding back the administration and
threatening to render it ineffective.

The unity government’s failure to win financial support from Western powers and multilateral institutions has also crippled its efforts to
rebuild an economy shattered by a decade of political strife and acute recession.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai have in recent days hinted they prefer an election to end their power-sharing dispute but analysts say both are
not ready for a new vote, while they are fears of a quick return to the political violence and gross human rights abuses witnessed in the
2008 elections.

Under the GPA Zimbabwe should hold fresh elections following the drafting of new constitution to ensure the vote is free and fair.
Zuma was expected to raise the issue of elections with Mugabe and Tsvangirai.