MDC national executive calls for finality on dialogue
The MDC national executive met in Harare today where President Morgan Tsvangirai gave a briefing and a feedback on the diplomatic assignment to end the political impasse and the state of the current dialogue process.
The President and the National Executive received formal representation from the provinces on the humanitarian situation, the cholera epidemic, the debilitating economic meltdown and the declining living conditions of the people in rural and urban areas across the country.
The National Executive noted with concern the suffering of the people, the massive starvation, the decay of public institutions and the collapse of basic services such as health and education. The executive also noted with serious concern the lack of guarantee on the security of persons as witnessed by the recent abductions of MDC and civic activists on trumped-up charges.
The National Executive reiterated that there has to be finality on the protracted dialogue, either in success or in failure, because Zimbabweans cannot continue to be arrested by an inconclusive process. The executive also reiterated that all outstanding issues should be resolved first before an inclusive government is formed.
The outstanding issues include:
1. an equitable allocation of ministerial portfolios,
2. the appointment of governors in line with the election results of 29 March 2008,
3. the composition and functions of the National Security Council and the appointment of ambassadors and permanent secretaries.
The outstanding issues also include the issue of the unilateral executive appointments done after 21 July 2008 and the immediate release of all MDC and civic activists who have been arrested on trumped-up charges.
[MDC Information and Publicity Department]
