Zimbabwe's Mugabe and S. Africa's Zuma in Showdown Over Regional Monitors
ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo insisted his party will not receive the SADC delegates, leading the MDC to allege diplomatic sabotage
Although two full SADC summits have have resolved JOMIC be bolstered by SADC delegates, President Mugabe vowed late last week that ZANU-PF would never permit what he called outside interference Facilitators for South African President Jacob Zuma, mediator in Zimbabwe for the Southern African Development Community, have vowed not to back down on fulfilling a regional resolution to deploy three SADC delegates to Harare's Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee to track compliance by the power-sharing partners. Although two full SADC summits and a mini-summit of SADC's troika on politics, defense and security have recommended JOMIC be strengthened, President Mugabe vowed on Friday that ZANU-PF would never permit what he called outside interference. ZANU-PF and SADC sources say relations between Mr. Mugabe and Pretoria have soured, noting the letter Mr. Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba sent to facilitator Lindiwe Zulu accusing her of overstepping her authority by seeking a meeting with the Zimbabwe Media Commission without clearance from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Charamba also took offense at a letter from Zulu to Information Minister Webster Shamu complaining about lack of access, calling it “offensive” and “objectionable.” Lindiwe Zulu told VOA reporter Blessing Zulu that "we've gone past that discussion" as to interference in Zimbabwe's internal affairs. "All the parties agreed to it, the only thing remaining was just the terms of reference" for implementing the resolutions. ZANU-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo insisted his party will not receive the SADC trio. Douglas Mwonzora, spokesman for the MDC formation of Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, says ZANU-PF wants to sabotage reform. Negotiator Moses Mzila Ndlovu of the MDC wing led by Industry Minister Welshman Ncube says ZANU-PF is reneging on an agreement. Political analyst John Makumbe sees a “vintage” ZANU-PF move intended to frustrate SADC.