QUOTE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 479 (NW638E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 8-2013 OF 15 MARCH 2013
MR LS NGONYAMA (COPE) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND
COOPERATION:
1) Whether, her departmentâs goals in bringing the two opposing parties
in the Zimbabwe political situation together were achieved; if not,
why not; if so, what outstanding matters remain unresolved;
2) Whether the unresolved matters have any impact on the forthcoming (a)
referendum and (b) general elections; if not, why not; if so,
3) Whether she can give the assurance that the nation of Zimbabwe will go
ahead with the elections without a repeat of the violence and
uncertainty which marred the previous elections; if not, what is the
position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY:
1) The parties to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) agreed on the
draft Constitution which was subjected to a referendum on 16 March
2013. The Zimbabwe electorate overwhelmingly voted yes to the new
constitution. The holding of the Constitutional Referendum is a major
milestone in the implementation of the GPA as it paves the way to the
harmonised elections.
2) We understand that all the matters that needed to be resolved before
the Referendum have since been resolved. Following the successful
Constitutional Referendum, the constitution will be presented before
Parliament and assented to by the President after which an election
can be held.
3) It is the wish of South Africa, the SADC region and the African Union
for Zimbabwe to conduct the upcoming harmonised elections in a
conducive and peaceful environment. In this regard, the SADC
Facilitator and his Facilitation Task Team, in their ongoing efforts,
are working closely with the parties to the GPA and other relevant
stakeholders outside the GPA to create an environment conducive for
peaceful and credible elections.
UNQUOTE