South African Government position with regard to President Mugabe’s call for an early Election in Zimbabwe

QUOTE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 77

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 1 OF 10 FEBRUARY 2011

Mr KS Mubu (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

What is the Government’s position with regard to President Mugabe’s call for an early election in Zimbabwe?
 
REPLY:

South Africa, through President Zuma, is mandated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to assist the Zimbabwe political leadership to implement the Global Political Agreement (GPA).  The GPA provides a guide to the holding of elections in Zimbabwe.  In this regard, the GPA envisages that an election in Zimbabwe will be held following the finalisation of the constitution making process.  Currently, the Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC) is drafting a new Constitution for Zimbabwe after which a referendum and then elections should be held.

UNQUOTE