WASHINGTON —
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika on Politics and Defense is expected to meet soon to discuss the referendum and a request by Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for an extraordinary summit ahead of elections later this year.
Mr. Tsvangirai met with the SADC observer mission in the country for an hour on Friday and urged the regional body to convene a full SADC summit to focus on Zimbabwe and "help to cement a roadmap to free, fair and credible elections.”
The Prime Minister cited the need for security sector and media reforms.
He also expressed concern at the resurgence of violence and the apparent police crackdown on human rights organizations and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party supporters. The SADC team also met with President Robert Mugabe to discuss the overall political situation.
SADC executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao told VOA Studio 7 that the troika of the organ on politics, defence and security cooperation will consider Mr Tsvangirai’s request for a summit.
Would a SADC summit put pressure on Zanu-PF to ease up on the opposition?
Human rights lawyer Jeremiah Bamu has his doubts, saying SADC monitors are in Zimbabwe now, yet the police crackdown continues.
SADC facilitated negotiations for the setting up of the coalition government in Zimbabwe after violent and inconclusive elections in 2008.
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has been helping the three parties in government to negotiate a so-called roadmap to new elections.
Mr. Tsvangirai met with the SADC observer mission in the country for an hour on Friday and urged the regional body to convene a full SADC summit to focus on Zimbabwe and "help to cement a roadmap to free, fair and credible elections.”
The Prime Minister cited the need for security sector and media reforms.
He also expressed concern at the resurgence of violence and the apparent police crackdown on human rights organizations and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party supporters. The SADC team also met with President Robert Mugabe to discuss the overall political situation.
SADC executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao told VOA Studio 7 that the troika of the organ on politics, defence and security cooperation will consider Mr Tsvangirai’s request for a summit.
Would a SADC summit put pressure on Zanu-PF to ease up on the opposition?
Human rights lawyer Jeremiah Bamu has his doubts, saying SADC monitors are in Zimbabwe now, yet the police crackdown continues.
SADC facilitated negotiations for the setting up of the coalition government in Zimbabwe after violent and inconclusive elections in 2008.
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has been helping the three parties in government to negotiate a so-called roadmap to new elections.