2 Background these institutions have over the years provided minimum guidelines on the conduct of credible, free and fair elections. 1.1.1 The role of the Southern Africa Development Community The establishment of the IG was the epitome of the subversion of the peoples’ will. The IG was an imposed political solution, negotiated after the sham one-man presidential election run-off of 27 June 2008, tainted with stark evidence of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, widespread violence and manipulation. It was rejected by all observer missions and the national population at large.5 The SADC and AU, concerned about the political crisis and the possible instability in Zimbabwe, and desirous of maintaining peace and security in the region and on the continent, played a key role in negotiating a power-sharing agreement – the GPA of September 2008. This set the foundation for a government amongst the three main political parties with presence in Parliament, being the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations led by Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and (then) Arthur Mutambara (MDC-M),6 and the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). The AU and SADC also acted as guarantors of the GPA, continuing to monitor the implementation of the GPA provisions by the three principals for the purposes of facilitating a conducive electoral environment, eradication of impunity for politically-motivated violence, and reformed institutions to ensure that the will of the people would be respected in a future poll. Since February 2009 when the IG was established, the SADC-appointed facilitators – first, President Thabo Mbeki, and subsequently President Jacob Zuma – worked to facilitate dialogue between the two MDCs and ZANU PF for the achievement of the GPA objectives. Economic stabilisation, a reduction in overt violence, and the production of a constitution accepted by national referendum were achieved during the life of the IG;7 however key legislative and institutional reforms and countering of impunity for human rights violations proved elusive. A roadmap to elections was constantly ignored and violated and, on the eve of elections, many outstanding reform issues remain unresolved. The region and continent have been seized with efforts to resolve the Zimbabwe situation since 2009, holding a record number of Summits and Troika meetings to deal with emerging disputes and infractions. Through these efforts, and the work of a strong South African facilitation team, the IG managed to hold under extreme pressure and provocation. However, following the delivery of a controversial judgment by the 5 6 7 Voters are said to have gone to poll on 27 June 2008 in a climate of fear and dread after Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from participating, citing violence and insecurity. See M Meredith The State of Africa – A history of the continent since independence (2011) p 621. Mutambara was removed from presidency of the party during a disputed congress in January 2010. His removal was held to have been procedural by the court. See D Nemukuyu “Mutambara’s ouster above board – High Court” The Herald (13 June 2012)p 1; O Gagare “I’m now principal – Ncube declares” Newsday (12 January 2011) p 1. This constitution was adopted after about 4 years as it was stalled due to major disagreements by the political parties involved, amongst other challenges.