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Reliable sources told our Harare Bureau yesterday that the double troika under the auspices of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security will review the political and security situation in Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold harmonised elections this year as the logical conclusion to the Sadc brokered Global Political Agreement.
President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara will attend the troika meeting in their capacities as GPA principals.
PM Tsvangirai and DPM Mutambara will, however, not attend the Sadc extraordinary summit for heads of state and government.
There are also indications that Professor Welshman Ncube, the leader of the MDC faction could also attend the troika meeting.
Zimbabwe is not on the agenda of the Sadc extraordinary summit but will come under the spotlight at the double troika meeting.
The double troika reports to the full summit.
“Sadc made a last-minute decision yesterday (Monday) evening. The double troika will meet and review the situation in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. However, we (Zimbabwe) are not on the agenda of the Sadc extraordinary summit and nothing has changed save for the double troika meeting. Parties are attending at the invitation of the double troika,” a source revealed yesterday.
When asked if Zimbabwe was comfortable with the last minute changes by Sadc, the source said: “We cannot be seen to be arguing with Sadc. The double troika is a routine meeting. It would report its findings to the summit.”
Yesterday DPM Mutambara confirmed receiving an invitation from Sadc secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao and he said he would be attending the troika meeting.
“We are travelling to Angola where there is a troika meeting on Zimbabwe. I am leaving tomorrow (today),” DPM Mutambara said.
MDC-T negotiator in the interparty talks Mr Elton Mangoma confirmed yesterday that PM Tsvangirai was heading for Angola.
“I can confirm that we have been invited by Sadc and the Prime Minister will attend,” Mr Mangoma said.
He claimed Zimbabwe was on the agenda of the summit adding, “everyone who thinks otherwise will be disappointed”.
The last-minute change by Sadc coincided with the visit of Sadc facilitator, President Jacob Zuma’s backroom facilitation team led by Ms Lindiwe Zulu, which met negotiators in Harare on Monday.
The Luanda extraordinary summit will discuss the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.
At the summit, leaders are expected to brainstorm on ways of enhancing economic co-operation between member states.
The plan outlines policies, strategies and priorities for achieving deeper regional integration and poverty eradication.
Online Reporter