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Cdes Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche represent Zanu-PF, while Mr Tendai Biti and Mr Elton Mangoma are standing in for the MDC-T. The MDC formation is represented by its secretary general Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu.
Cde Chinamasa yesterday confirmed the negotiators were already in South Africa for a meeting with the facilitation team.
“I can confirm that we have travelled to South Africa for a meeting with the facilitation team. The meeting starts tomorrow (today). We will agree on the agenda of the meeting tomorrow,” he said.
The MDC-T also confirmed its negotiators were in South Africa.
Initially, the facilitation team had been invited to Zimbabwe for a meeting with the negotiators from May 5 to 7.
It is this meeting which was later shifted to South Africa.
The meeting comes at a time when the negotiators completed the drafting of an election roadmap last month, which was reportedly handed over to the principals.
The roadmap identifies the lifting of sanctions, completion of the constitution-making process and amendments to electoral laws as some of the critical issues that should be addressed before national elections are held.
The elections were set for this year but there are indications that they could be delayed to next year or 2013.
In the roadmap report, the negotiators are also in agreement on the need for media reforms.
Falling under media reforms are ssues such as the appointment of new boards for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and trustees for the Mass Media Trust.
The negotiators have also agreed on the establishment of a Media Council of Zimbabwe, licensing of new broadcasters and called on governments hosting and funding pirate radio stations to stop doing so.
They also agreed in principle on voter education, mobilisation of voter registration, preparation of a new voters’ roll and its inspection.
However, there are issues in contention that the parties feel should be discussed further. The MDC formations want a fresh recruitment at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission but Zanu-PF is adamant there should be no changes. The MDC formations further want security forces to issue a public statement upholding the Constitution and respecting the rule of law ahead of any election or referendum.
Zanu-PF contends that this was not an election matter and that parties have no right to direct uniformed forces to issues such a statement as they took an oath of office, loyalty and secrecy to uphold the Constitution.
The MDC formations also allege that serving members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces were actively involved in the affairs of Zanu-PF at the grassroots, a claim the revolutionary party has since dismissed as false.
Zanu-PF argues that some ex-combatants, who retired from the army and are not active members of the ZDF, were active in the party structures.
The MDC formations further claim that their members were under attack from Zanu-PF supporters but the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee says both parties were equally to blame for the violence.
Recent events in the run-up to the MDC-T congress held in Bulawayo have also shown the world how violent Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party is.
Intra-party violence, vote buying and rigging characterised the MDC-T provincial elections ahead of the congress, forcing Mr Tsvangirai to issue a public statement acknowledging the violence in his party.
These are some of the issues the facilitation team is expected to help iron out.
Online Reporter