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Zuma facilitators meet GPA parties

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SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma’s four-member facilitation team yesterday separately met with representatives of the three political parties in the coalition government to receive updates on the constitutional reform process and preparations for next year’s general elections.

SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma’s four-member facilitation team yesterday separately met with representatives of the three political parties in the coalition government to receive updates on the constitutional reform process and preparations for next year’s general elections. By our Chief Reporter

The team comprised Charles Nqakula, Mac Maharaji, Zuma’s special advisor Lindiwe Zulu and South Africa’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Vusi Mavimbela.

Zuma’s emissaries met MDC-T representatives in the morning before holding a similar meeting with the MDC side around midday and later with the Zanu PF team.

Both MDC negotiator Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Zanu PF representative Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana confirmed yesterday’s meetings, but the MDC-T representatives could not be reached for comment.

“We met them from 11am to about 2pm. But before they met us, they had already met the MDC-T. They later met Zanu PF negotiators after our meeting,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga said.

“We apprised them about the reluctance by coalition partners, particularly Zanu PF, to implement the Maputo Resolution. We told them that the violations on the agreement had made it difficult for the inclusive government to implement all the agreed reforms.”

Misihairabwi-Mushonga said her party told facilitators they were not happy with delays in concluding the constitution-making process and that Zanu PF was throwing stumbling blocks on the path to reform.

“The draft constitution was released in July, but we are heading towards December and nothing is moving forward. We will go up until next June squabbling on the process. When are we going to implement the reforms?”

She said reforms still awaiting implementation included security sector and media reforms.

At the time of going to print last night, the team was locked in a meeting with Zanu PF negotiators Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and Transport minister Nicholas Goche.

Mangwana said: “You ask minister Chinamasa. They should be meeting the facilitating team right now.”

Chinamasa was not picking his phone up to the time of going to print last night.