NEWS - INTERNATIONAL
| 2013-08-06SADC allegedly told Tsvangirai to quit
Mac Maharaj
JOHANNESBURG – Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party took part in Zimbabwe’s elections against advice from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which urged him to withdraw from the polls.
A high-level diplomatic source has told City Press that the SADC told Tsvangirai at a summit in Maputo in June not to take part in the elections.
“This was the only way the elections could be delayed so concerns about the reforms of the security sector could be addressed,” said a government aide with close knowledge of the meeting. But Zuma’s spokesperson, Mac Maharaj, said the proposal was not made at the meeting. “The SADC’s communiqué [discussed in Maputo] wanted the parties to talk about their differences and approach the courts for a postponement of 14 days,” Maharaj said.
“It did not say that one party should withdraw. That wasn’t an option. If any member advised this outside of the meeting, it would be an irresponsible thing to say.”
The Maputo meeting was attended by SADC heads, including Zuma, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai, who served as prime minister of Zimbabwe’s unity government at the time.
“This was the only way the elections could be delayed so concerns about the reforms of the security sector could be addressed,” said a government aide with close knowledge of the meeting. But Zuma’s spokesperson, Mac Maharaj, said the proposal was not made at the meeting. “The SADC’s communiqué [discussed in Maputo] wanted the parties to talk about their differences and approach the courts for a postponement of 14 days,” Maharaj said.
“It did not say that one party should withdraw. That wasn’t an option. If any member advised this outside of the meeting, it would be an irresponsible thing to say.”
The Maputo meeting was attended by SADC heads, including Zuma, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai, who served as prime minister of Zimbabwe’s unity government at the time.
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