Global Political Agreement

In the final weeks of August and early September 2012, events and processes – all key indicators of Zimbabwe`s “international relations” – created a “perfect storm” that threatens the country`s fragile inclusive government and opens up the possibility of further intervention by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). [1] The “road map” of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), which was to guide Zimbabwe through broadly consultative constitutional change and peaceful, free and fair elections over five years until 2013 – while governing cooperatively – has fluctuated over an abyss created by the confluence of two phenomena that mix the local and the global and say a lot about “international relations” in Africa today. David Moore, a political scientist by training, is Professor of Development Studies and Head of the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg. He and Norma Kriger and Brian Raftopoulos co-edited a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies entitled “Progress” in Zimbabwe, which was published earlier this year. The Committee participated in a dialogue with representatives of zimbabwe`s main political parties, with the exception of ZANU-PF, a representative of the European Union and representatives of civil society organizations, on progress and obstacles to the implementation of the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe. There were fears that part of the food aid would be used as a political instrument, but this should be confirmed. At an all-stakeholder conference, there was agreement on a draft constitution to be submitted to the Zimbabwean Parliament for consideration with a view to a referendum. After the conference, ZANU-PF turned around and made new demands regarding the draft constitution, which was problematic. ZANU-PF, in violation of Article 6 of the Global Political Agreement and the principle of the separation of powers, sought to wrest the constitutional process from the Zimbabwean parliament by advocating negotiations on the draft constitution between the three parties. Challenges such as restrictions on media pluralism, statements by security forces, lack of confidence in the sector of judicial service delivery, lack of independence of the Secretariat of the Electoral Commission and human rights violations remained a challenge.

He called for the completion of the constitutional process, the holding of a referendum, compliance with the road map set out in the Global Political Agreement, the lifting of sanctions and the participation of other international actors in the process. A PLAN member asked the committee to discuss with SADC representatives and ZANU-PF`s comments would also be taken into account. ANC members asked whether there were “sunset clauses” to facilitate the process and what would allow for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. One member of COPE expressed concern about the proposal made to the institutions of the oversight bodies; this would lead to tensions; the AU would play a crucial role in the process once it was involved. The Chairman said that South Africa supported the people of Zimbabwe and that its role was to ensure that the situation was resolved. The People of Zimbabwe have been suffering for so long and there can be no postponement of what rightfully belongs to them. The people of Zimbabwe need a long-term solution. The minimum was to create an environment conducive to free and fair elections, and the conditions should be agreed. A credible Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was essential in this process. .

the terms of the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA), which aimed to end a political crisis in Zimbabwe. The structure of the executive was changed so that the creation of one post of Prime Minister and the creation of two posts of Deputy Prime Minister were made possible. Introduction The President said that the situation in Zimbabwe is of great importance not only for South Africa, but also for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and that it is in South Africa`s national interest to monitor what is happening in Zimbabwe while acknowledging the work done by the various stakeholders, and in particular those participating in the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The President congratulated President Barack Obama on behalf of the commission on his decisive victory in the U.S. election. For the benefit of the committee`s guests, he said the dialogue should allow the commission to make recommendations to the National Assembly on how to help resolve the situation. The Chairman appreciated the presence of representatives; Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube (MDC-N), European Union (EU), Zimbabwe Crisis Coalition, Solidarity Peace Trust, Zimbabwe Election Support Network and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. He added that the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) refused to send a representative when the embassy was contacted. The representative of the European Union, Igor Driesmans, Second Secretary of the EU: Delegation of the European Union, said that since the creation of the Government of National Unity in 2009, the EU`s objective in Zimbabwe has been to achieve full normalisation of the EU`s relations with Zimbabwe. High-level meetings had been organised between the EU and Zimbabwe, the last meeting of which took place in Brussels in May 2012. Despite some restrictive and proportionate measures against Zimbabwe, the EU has not reduced development aid channelled through non-governmental organisations.

Since 2009, the European Commission and Member States have provided around €1 billion in development aid, including humanitarian aid, the provision of life-saving medicines, textbooks (Education Transition Fund), fertiliser needs for municipal farmers and support for smallholder farmers. .