The Zimbabwean
By Victor Chimbamu
19 June 2013
As we gathered outside the Zimbabwe Embassy for yet another wet Vigil the skies suddenly cleared and the sun broke through. We arrived generally pessimistic about the SADC summit in Maputo but before the day was out our opinions changed.
“It has been an incredible and unbelievable day,†wrote Tendai Biti on his Facebook page. “SADC rose to the occasion and scuttled the evil and Machiavellian machinations of the chaos faction of Zanu (PF).†First reports say that Mugabe arrived at the meeting with the biggest entourage of any leader. But President Zuma was ready for them and they were soon put in their place.
Biti said all President Zuma’s recommendations were adopted, including a demand that the Constitutional Court be requested to postpone elections for 14 days to enable reforms to be made.
The security forces would be required to publicly affirm their commitment to the rule of law, SADC observers were to be deployed immediately and SADC representatives were to sit in JOMIC and not merely to receive reports as demanded by Zanu PF. Commenting on the development, MDC Education Minister David Coltart tweeted: “There are three reasons why SADC resolution is critically important; Firstly, it is a victory for the respect for the rule of law and the new Constitution; secondly, it means that voter registration and roll inspection can be completed before nomination day and, thirdly, it constitutes a major political faux pas by Zanu (PF) hardliners and will be damaging and embarrassing.â€
The Vigil is grateful to President Zuma for standing up to Zanu (PF). Although they will still do everything they can to prevent free and fair elections, at least we know we are not alone.
FOR THE RECORD: 37 signed the register.