MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ZANU PF AND MDC

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE ZIMBABWE AFRICAN NATIONAL
UNION
(PATRIOTIC FRONT) AND THE TWO MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
FORMATIONS

PREAMBLE
*

We the Parties to this Memorandum of Understanding; Concerned about the recent challenges that we have faced as a country and the multiple threats to the well-being of our people; *
Dedicating
*ourselves to putting an end to the polarisation, divisions,conflict and intolerance that have characterised our country's politics; *
Determined
*to build a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hate, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality; *
Recognising
*the centrality and importance of African institutions in dealing with African problems, and agreeing to seek solutions to our differences, challenges and problems through dialogue under the auspices of the
SADC mediation, supported and endorsed by the African Union; *

Acknowledging
*that we have an obligation of establishing a framework of working together in an inclusive government; *

Desirous therefore
*of entering into a dialogue with a view to returning Zimbabwe to prosperity; *

Recognising
*that such a dialogue requires agreement on procedures and processes that will guide the dialogue.
1
*
NOW THEREFORE AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
* *

1. Definitions
*

The 'Memorandum of Understanding' ("MOU") shall mean this written
agreement signed by the Principals.

'The Parties' shall mean ZANU-PF, the two MDC formations led by
Morgan Tsvangirai and by Arthur Mutambara respectively. 'The Principals' shall mean the President and First Secretary of ZANU-PF, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the President of the one MDC formation,
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai and the President of the other MDC formation, Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara.

*2. Declaration of Commitment
*

The Parties hereby declare and agree to commit themselves to a dialogue with each other with a view to creating a genuine, viable, permanent and sustainable solution to the Zimbabwean situation and, in
particular, to implement this Memorandum of Understanding.

3. Representation
*
The Parties will be represented by two representatives each in the
dialogue.
*

4. Agenda
*

The Parties have agreed to the following Agenda:

4.1. Objectives and Priorities of a new Government

(a) ECONOMIC

(i) Restoration of economic stability and growth

(ii) Sanctions

(iii) Land question

(b) POLITICAL

(i) New Constitution

(ii) Promotion of equality, national healing and cohesion, and
unity

(iii)External interference

2 (iv)Free political activity

(v) Rule of law

(vi) State organs and institutions

(vii) Legislative agenda priorities

(c) SECURITY

(i) Security of persons and prevention of violence

(d) COMMUNICATION

(i) Media

(ii) External radio stations

4.2 Framework for a new Government

4.3 Implementation mechanisms

4.4 Global political agreement.

*

5. Facilitation
*

The Dialogue shall be facilitated in accordance with the SADC and
AU
resolutions.
*

6. Time frames
*

The Dialogue commenced on 10 July 2008 and will continue until the
Parties
have finalised all necessary matters, save for short breaks that
may be
agreed upon for purposes of consultation. It is envisaged that the
Dialogue
will be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of
signing of
this MOU.
*

7. Venue
*

The Dialogue shall be conducted at such venues as shall be
determined by the
Facilitator in consultation with the representatives of the
Parties.
*

8. Communication with the media
*

None of the Parties shall, during the Dialogue period, directly or
indirectly communicate the substance of the discussion with the
media. The
parties

3

shall refrain from negotiating through the media, whether through
their
representatives to the Dialogue or any of their Party officials.
*

9. Decisions by the Parties
*

The Parties shall not, during the subsistence of the Dialogue, take
any
decisions or measures that have a bearing on the agenda of the
Dialogue,
save by consensus. Such decisions or measures include, but are not
limited
to the convening of Parliament or the formation of a new
government.
*

10. Interim measures

10.1 Security of persons
*

(a) Each Party will issue a statement condemning the promotion and use of violence and call for peace in the country and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the structures and institutions it
controls are not engaged in the perpetration of violence.
(b) The Parties are committed to ensuring that the law is applied fairly and justly to all persons irrespective of political affiliation.
(c) The Parties will take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of political violence, including by non-state actors, and to ensure
the security of persons and property.

(d) The Parties agree that, in the interim, they will work together to ensure the safety of any displaced persons and their safe return home and that humanitarian and social welfare organisations are enabled to render such assistance as might be required.
*
10.2 Hate speech
*
The Parties shall refrain from using abusive language that may
incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or undermine each other.
*

11. The role of SADC and the AU
*

The implementation of the Global Political Agreement that the
Parties will
conclude shall be underwritten and guaranteed by the Facilitator,
SADC and
the AU.

4
*

12. Execution of the agreement
*

This agreement shall be signed by the Principals in the presence of
each other and shall be witnessed by the Facilitator.
*

Signed at Harare this day of 2008.
**

Robert G. Mugabe
*

President, ZANU-PF
*

Morgan R. Tsvangirai
*

President, MDC
*

Arthur G. O. Mutambara
*

President, MDC

Thabo Mbeki

SADC Facilitator