South Sudan Seeks Zimbabwe Support Over Conflict With Khartoum - Voice of America

A South Sudanese parliamentary delegation was in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday seeking assistance in efforts to resolve outstanding issues with Sudan.

The South seceded from Sudan last year after years of a bitter conflict, but still has unresolved issues with the North over sharing of oil revenues and a border dispute.

Head of delegation Bangout Amin Akech told journalists in Harare after meeting with Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo, that her country wants a peaceful resolution with Khartoum.

This despite Sudan resuming its aerial bombardment of South Sudan Monday, rejecting international calls for a cessation of hostilities between the two countries.

Akech said her country can not go to war with Sudan over resources, adding they are ready to share, and would want more African countries to in invest their country.

Speaker Moyo said Harare had a lot of experience in crafting political solutions and stands ready to assist their South Sudanese counterparts.

Zimbabwe's unity government is a product of a settlement reached after grueling negotiations led by the regional Southern African Development Community.

But the accord is far from perfect and has not been able to resolve all differences between Zanu PF and the MDC. It was unclear if Harare would indeed get involved, and if it did, what form its involvement would take.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe parliament resumed sitting Tuesday after adjourning in March with Moyo telling the members they can not debate the motion on the Urban Councils Amendment Bills as Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo is challenging the bill in the Supreme Court.

The private members bill brought by Buhera Central legislator, Tangwara Matimba of the MDC formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, seeks to clip the minister’s powers.

Among other bills and motions the House of Assembly is expected to pass is the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill, which will operationalize the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

Parliamentary sources say Zanu PF and the Tsvangirai MDC are set to clash again over the role of parliament in debating bills in the current session.

The Zanu PF parliamentary caucus resolved that lawmakers must not bring private member’s bills or debate specific bills they say are in breach of the Global Political Agreement, the foundation of the all-inclusive government.

Zanu PF is also trying to block attempts to amend the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Urban Councils Act brought through private member’s bills.

But Tsvangirai MDC parliamentary whip Innocent Gonese said his party will press ahead to ensure the bills are read and debated in both Houses.

Defense Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, parliamentary sources say, has been tasked by his party to approach Moyo to negotiate the shelving of MDC-sponsored private members bills, a move many see as an attempt to block key reforms.

Human rights lawyer Andrew Makoni told VOA that Zanu PF's attempts are unconstitutional.