THE country’s three governing parties have agreed to suspend discussions on the controversial appointments of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana (pictured) until they find common ground on the other outstanding issues in their power sharing agreement.

The decision was taken as the parties raced against time to meet a 30-day Southern African Development Community (Sadc) deadline that expires on Saturday.

Sources said the decision followed a realisation that the emotive issue could scuttle the negotiations, which resumed at a secret location in Harare yesterday.

Gono and Tomana’s fate will now be discussed after the more than 20 items on the agenda are exhausted.

The talks between negotiators from Zanu PF and the two MDC formations yesterday focused on the issues of sanctions and the media, sources said.

“Nothing has changed in terms of the issues being discussed,” said the source.

“Today the discussions will centre on the issue of sanctions and the media, that is, both the local media and pirate radio stations.”

The sources said although “there is some movement forward”, the Zanu PF and MDC-T teams were still poles apart on the issue of the appointment of Gono and Tomana who are accused of being too partisan.
“The item on the appointments has been postponed,” said the source.

Without indicating when the negotiating teams would conclude the current discussions, the source said: “There is general agreement on the need to move with speed, because delays defeat the very essence of the GPA.”

A three-member South African delegation is expected in the country today to push the parties to meet the 30-day deadline set by Sadc on November 5.

President Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson yesterday, Vincent Magwenya told The Standard that ANC stalwart and presidential advisor, Charles Nqakula, Mac Maharaj and international relations advisor to the president Lindiwe Zulu were travelling to Harare to ensure “the parties work within the Sadc framework.”

South Africa is seen losing patience over the delays in the implementation of the GPA and Zuma who was given the task to facilitate in the negotiations has made it clear he wants results before the end of the year.

Observers say President Zuma is being gifted a second opportunity to show how truly committed he is to finding a democratic solution in Zimbabwe.

They say that it is clear that the GPA is failing in delivering on its mandate and that it is therefore essential that the Zuma’s team uses this opportunity to adopt a new, objective concrete plan of action to bring about real change in Zimbabwe.

They also say that while the establishment of this task team suggests that President Zuma is committed to finding a solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe this task team needs to produce outcomes.

President Zuma, they say, must ensure that the facilitation team follows through with real action, that it remains firm in its dealings with both the Zanu PF and the MDC during negotiations and that Sadc moves away from its previous policy of appeasement and starts using the mechanisms at its disposal to make sure all parties in Zimbabwe uphold their commitments when it comes to establishing a legitimate democracy in the country.

The agenda for the Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC talks reportedly contains more than 20 items but the most pressing issues include the sharing of posts of provincial governors, appointment of ambassadors and permanent secretaries, sanctions and pirate radio stations.

The MDC-T also wants an end to the persecution of senior officials, which has seen several of them being dragged before the courts on trumped up charges or for petty offences.

BY KHOLWANI NYATHI AND VUSUMUZI SIFILE, The Zimbabwe Standard