Zimbabwe: ZANU PF says `No more GPA concessions` until sanctions lifted

30 January, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa
By Violet Gonda
28 January 2010

The inter-party negotiations were dealt another serious blow on Wednesday when ZANU PF’s supreme decision making body, the Politburo, said there will be no more Global Political Agreement concessions until the sanctions have been lifted.

Ephraim Masawi, ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Information and Publicity, is quoted in the Herald saying remarks by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband that, ‘London would remove sanctions at MDC’s request exposed MDC-T’s treacherous role in the initiation and drafting of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabweans.’ The paper went on to say the party was a, ‘tool of Western imperialism, and that the hypocrisy of the MDC-T’s denial of its role in the evil saga of the imposition of illegal sanctions now stands exposed for all to see.’

Commentator Dr. Alex Magaisa said the statements made by the British official have added fuel to already burning embers in the context of Zimbabwe’s fragile political settlement.

He told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that Miliband’s statements were ‘unfortunate,’ and gave an indication that the MDC had the power to influence the lifting of sanctions, thereby giving ZANU PF a wonderful gift, which it is exploiting to the detriment of the GPA.

Magaisa said it is not clear whether or not the MDC actually have such power, despite [continue reading]

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