blamed for the Zimbabwe crisis.’ Nelson Chamisa, the MDC‐T spokesperson agreed noting that
the ‘action of our guarantors, SADC and the African Union, is in deficit.’37
This seeming lethargy of the SADC facilitation took a dramatic turn at the SADC Trioka summit in
Zambia on the 31st March. Noting with ‘grave concern’ the political polarization in Zimbabwe
characterised by the ‘resurgence of violence, arrests and intimidation’, the Summit made five
resolutions on Zimbabwe:
There must be an immediate end of violence, intimidation, hate speech, harassment, and
any other form of action that contradicts the letter and spirit of the GPA.
All stakeholders to the GPA should implement all the provisions of the GPA and create a
conducive environment for peace, security, and free political activity.
The Inclusive Government should complete all the steps for the holding of the election
including the finalization of the constitutional amendment and the referendum;
SADC should assist Zimbabwe to formulate guidelines that will assist in holding an election
that will be peaceful, free and fair, in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines
Governing Democratic Elections.
The Troika of the Organ shall appoint a team of officials to join the Facilitation Team and
work with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) to ensure
monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the GPA. The Troika shall develop the
Terms of Reference, time frames and provide regular progress reports, the first, to be
presented during the next SADC Extraordinary Summit. Summit will review progress on
the implementation of the GPA and take appropriate action.38
Without naming Mugabe directly, these resolutions were arguably the most forthright diplomatic
criticism that SADC had issued of the Mugabe regime, with the recommendations largely echoing
the demands that the MDCs and the civic movement had been making since 2009. Moreover for
the first time since SADC began discussing the outstanding issues of the GPA the sanctions issue
was not mentioned, an issue that consistently kept the region in solidarity with Mugabe. The
37
Paidamoyo Muzulu, ‘Zuma mediation ‘disgraceful’: MDC’. www.theindependent.co.zw/local/29551‐zuma‐
mediation‐disgraceful‐mdc.html/t.. Accessed on 17/01/2011. The African Union Summit in Addis Ababa in January
2011 had steered clear of the Zimbabwe situation, with the AU Commission Secretary Jean Mfasoni observing that
Zimbabwe was not on the agenda because it was ‘now calm and these days there is no more fear that the situation
will degenerate into a crisis.’ www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/southern/African‐Union‐Sidelines‐Discussion‐
On‐Zimbabwe‐Despite‐Political‐Crisis‐114577139.html Accessed on 27/01/2011.
38
Communique: Summit of the Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, 31st March, Livingstone, 31st
March 2011.
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