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roadmap and identified the lifting of sanctions, completion of the constitution-making process and amendments to electoral laws as critical issues that should be addressed before the elections are held.
Zanu-PF negotiator, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday.
“We met yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) and finalised the election roadmap. We produced a report that we signed and would be submitted to the three principals and the South African facilitation team after the Easter Holiday,” he said.
Minister Chinamasa said the roadmap highlighted issues that needed to be resolved before the country could hold any elections.
“The report identifies activities that had to be undertaken before elections are held. These are; the lifting of (illegal) sanctions, completion of the constitution-making process and enactment of amendments to the Electoral Act. Those are some of the critical issues,” Cde Chinamasa said.
Areas where Zanu-PF and the MDC formations have divergent views were also included in the roadmap.
The MDC formations are alleging State-sanctioned violence perpetrated against their members.
They further claim that serving members of the Zimbabwe National Army were active in Zanu-PF structures across the country.
“As Zanu-PF, we are not aware of any State-sponsored violence and they should make that evidence available to us. What we know is that ex-combatants who were once employed by the ZNA and retired, have re-joined Zanu-PF as party cadres.
“These are retired members that feel that they should defend the party and country against any attack by the same imperialists who once colonised us. They feel an obligation to come and assist the party,” Cde Chinamasa said.
In the roadmap, the MDC formations are also demanding that Sadc election monitors should be allowed in the country six months before and after the polls to assess the environment.
Cde Chinamasa said issues related to the monitoring of elections would be covered by amendments to the Electoral Act.
The negotiators will now meet the facilitation team in South Africa on May 6 and 7 to iron out divergent issues.
The completion of the election roadmap comes ahead of an extraordinary Sadc Summit set for Namibia on May 20.
Events in Madagascar and an update on developments in Zimbabwe will be on the agenda of the summit.
A fortnight ago, the negotiators met in Harare and later briefed the facilitation team on the progress made so far and what remained outstanding.
The facilitation team was expected in the country on May 20 for a joint meeting with the negotiators.
It is this meeting that has now been rescheduled to May 6 and 7 in South Africa.
The negotiators have since concluded deliberations and produced a report on the review of the implementation of the GPA provisions.
They signed the report on April 8 in Harare.
Sadc appointed South African President Jacob Zuma to facilitate dialogue between Zanu-PF and the MDC formations.
The country is expected to hold national elections this year and the Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mugabe has since made this position clear that the elections will be held this year.
However, other members of the inclusive Government claim the environment is not yet conducive for polls.
MDC formations negotiators, Mr Tendai Biti and Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga could not be reached for comment yesterday.