SADC meeting set to discuss Zimbabwe elections

By Wilson Watson

HARAE, Zimbabwe- The Southern African Development Community has called an emergency meeting in Zambia on Saturday to deliberate on events that have been unfolding in Zimbabwe since the 29 March elections.
SADC Chairman M Levy Mwanawasa said the meeting that will be held in his country, would discuss the stalemate in the Zimbabwe election.
The ruling Zanu PF has indicated that the President Mugabe will attend the summit

“If it is a SADC meeting and it’s to do with Zimbabwe obviously he will be part of it ... he will attend,” Zanu PF spokesman Bright Matonga said.
A number of events have happened in Zimbabwe since the country held its historic election two weeks ago. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, has refused to announce the results from the presidential elections although the other results for parliamentary and senatorial elections were announced a week ago.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has been calling on the international community to intervene to diffuse a potential violence situation, as the people were now inpatient about the delay.
A number of countries and international organizations have also called on the Zimbabwean authorities to ensure that the results are released to map the way forward for the country reeling under heavy economic problems.
The MDC took the matter of late announcement of results to the High Court but a ruling will only be made on Monday.

On the other hand ZANU PF has announced that it will remain in charge of the country’s affairs, a move that has been taken by the opposition as a defacto coup.

ZANU PF officials announced that the cabinet that was dissolved before the elections should carry over its duties at the meantime, but no date was given for its dissolution.
Lawyers have pointed to different scenarios with some saying there was no official cabinet and president while some have argued that the cabinet must continue until a new president is officially sworn in.