Ephraim Masawi of ZANU PF has recently been quoted saying because the targeted sanctions still remain so the MDCs have not kept their Global Political Agreement (GPA) commitments. It would appear that ZANU PF is trying to shift blame before the arrival of Zuma in Harare. This clearly shows that there is trepidation in the corridors of ZANU PF power as they are not sure of what Zuma stands for. This has left ZANU PF clutching at straws as they try to show that the other parties have also not kept their commitments.
There is no dispute amongst all commentators that ZANU PF has stalled the progress of the GNU by refusing to fully consummate the GPA. The examples of ZPF intransigence come thick and fast. Mugabe’s unilateral re-appointment of the RBZ governor and the Attorney General, The unilateral appointment of Permanent Secretaries (although later ratified by Tsvangirai and Mutambara), the refusal to install Roy Bennett, Failure to appoint the new Provincial Governors as agreed in the GPA, the list goes on. Faced with these real issues that show commitment or lack of on their part, ZANU PF has come up with its own list of complaint(s) made up of one issue – the targeted sanctions. They now claim that because the sanctions have not been removed therefore the MDCs have failed the GPA. It is instructive to note that most western governments have said that until there is concrete and irreversible change they will not be lifting these sanctions. The thinking in most western capitals is you can only reward people for success. No one calls the GNU a success yet, not even ZANU PF.
Tsvangirai and Mutambara have called for the sanctions to be removed risking the backlash from their own supporters who feel that they are selling out. There is nothing more that they can do but to wait for the various governments to make their own minds up. However, there is a lot ZANU PF can do to ensure that the sanctions go away. Mugabe and his party can ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved amicably. It is within their power to bring an end to the sanctions. ZANU PF should not continue to treat the MDCs as junior partners in the GNU. It should show that there is genuine power sharing. Mugabe’s henchmen should stop acting with impunity. The Attorney General and the police should start pursuing all those who were involved in violence regardless of political affiliation. We want to see Chinotimba and the senior army officers who terrorised people and burned homes around the country being tried for these crimes. We want to see ZANU PF accept that people can and should choose what party they belong to. A more recent example of ZANU PF shooting itself in the foot is the attempt by Chinamasa and Mangwana to derail the appointment of the new media commission because Mahoso and Mutsvangwa failed to make the final list. For the first time we have a parliament led process and ZANU PF are crying foul. If statements by George Charamba are anything to go by then Mugabe is likely to reverse the whole process in order to appoint his surrogates. Why then should the West remove the targeted sanctions?
In my last blog I urged President Zuma to bring an open mind and to look at the terms of the GPA and to make his judgments based only on the evidence before him. I still hope he will do if he does not allow Mugabe’s hospitality to cloud his judgment. I am still concerned that Zuma has chosen to leave the matter until he comes to Harare as a guest of the Zimbabwe government. His independence may be curtailed by his desire to show courtesy to his host. Zuma should tell Mugabe that the world is willing to move only if he moves. The evidence on the ground does not seem to suggest that ZANU PF has adjusted their approach to governing to take into account the new political dispensation. Zuma should not allow ZANU PF to shift the focus from the ‘weighty issues’ by talking about sanctions. Most donor nations have pledged to help Zimbabwe once signs of real change are there for all to see. Mugabe and his cronies do not need to travel to the West for aid and monetary support to come they just need to take the GNU seriously. Zimbabweans are pinning their hopes on Zuma ‘forcing’ the principals to deal with all outstanding issues. Sanctions will die a natural death once the GPA is fully consummated.
Monday 17 August 2009
Tuesday 4 August 2009
Zuma’s chance to break with the past
Having met with Prime Minister Tsvangirai to discuss the state of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) President Zuma has now been presented with a chance to break with the past. It is encouraging that he acknowledged that there are weighty issues holding back the full consummation of the GPA.
Under the presidency of Thabo Mbeki the South African government had adopted a ‘hear no evil; see no evil’ approach to Mugabe’s transgressions. Mbeki was always willing to openly criticise the MDC and its leadership while maintaining a policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’ for Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe. This approach allowed Mugabe to act with impunity and, among other things, allowed Zanu PF thugs to continue maiming and killing innocent people for daring to oppose their leader. Most Zimbabweans felt betrayed by Mbeki both as South African president and as the SADC mediator. It is for this reason that many will not be excited by the pronouncements of President Zuma that he will intervene to ensure the GPA is fully implemented. No one can blame us for being sceptical because for years we have been disappointed by those who wielded the power to change our desperate political situation.
President Zuma now has a chance to change our perception of the Presidency in South Africa. We have come to associate the South African Presidency with those who appease Robert Mugabe without the courage to confront him when the need arises. Zuma now has a chance to break with this past. President Zuma has the power to change the situation in Zimbabwe if he chooses to put his foot down. What Zimbabweans are asking of Zuma is not that he just criticises Mugabe without cause but that he attempts to get to the bottom of the problems bedevilling the GPA. If he is to break with the past he must make an honest assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe before deciding who is stalling the progress of the unity government. Zuma must be prepared to criticise both Zanu PF and MDC where there is evidence that they are prolonging the suffering of Zimbabweans by not keeping their commitments under the GPA. The basis of criticism should be the terms of the GPA not personal like or dislike of the signatories to the GPA. In the past Thabo Mbeki allowed his personal dislike of Morgan Tsvangirai to cloud his judgement and he also allowed his elitist mentality to influence his dealings with Tsvangirai and Mugabe. Personal relationships became more important than rescuing Zimbabweans from the political and economic abyss. Zuma is not cut from the same elitist stone that Mbeki and Mugabe are cut from. He has made a big issue of his ‘common’ roots and we hope that this time we have a South African President who is on the side of ordinary people.
As President Zuma goes to speak to Robert Mugabe about the ‘weighty’ issues threatening the GNU in Zimbabwe I hope that he will be objective, fair and firm with all the signatories to the GPA. I hope that he will not allow personalities and relationships to cloud his judgement. He should rely only on the letter and spirit of the GPA to determine who has not kept their side of the deal. This is a chance for Zuma to break with the past or to join Mbeki in defending Mugabe at all costs. We wait with baited breath!
Under the presidency of Thabo Mbeki the South African government had adopted a ‘hear no evil; see no evil’ approach to Mugabe’s transgressions. Mbeki was always willing to openly criticise the MDC and its leadership while maintaining a policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’ for Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe. This approach allowed Mugabe to act with impunity and, among other things, allowed Zanu PF thugs to continue maiming and killing innocent people for daring to oppose their leader. Most Zimbabweans felt betrayed by Mbeki both as South African president and as the SADC mediator. It is for this reason that many will not be excited by the pronouncements of President Zuma that he will intervene to ensure the GPA is fully implemented. No one can blame us for being sceptical because for years we have been disappointed by those who wielded the power to change our desperate political situation.
President Zuma now has a chance to change our perception of the Presidency in South Africa. We have come to associate the South African Presidency with those who appease Robert Mugabe without the courage to confront him when the need arises. Zuma now has a chance to break with this past. President Zuma has the power to change the situation in Zimbabwe if he chooses to put his foot down. What Zimbabweans are asking of Zuma is not that he just criticises Mugabe without cause but that he attempts to get to the bottom of the problems bedevilling the GPA. If he is to break with the past he must make an honest assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe before deciding who is stalling the progress of the unity government. Zuma must be prepared to criticise both Zanu PF and MDC where there is evidence that they are prolonging the suffering of Zimbabweans by not keeping their commitments under the GPA. The basis of criticism should be the terms of the GPA not personal like or dislike of the signatories to the GPA. In the past Thabo Mbeki allowed his personal dislike of Morgan Tsvangirai to cloud his judgement and he also allowed his elitist mentality to influence his dealings with Tsvangirai and Mugabe. Personal relationships became more important than rescuing Zimbabweans from the political and economic abyss. Zuma is not cut from the same elitist stone that Mbeki and Mugabe are cut from. He has made a big issue of his ‘common’ roots and we hope that this time we have a South African President who is on the side of ordinary people.
As President Zuma goes to speak to Robert Mugabe about the ‘weighty’ issues threatening the GNU in Zimbabwe I hope that he will be objective, fair and firm with all the signatories to the GPA. I hope that he will not allow personalities and relationships to cloud his judgement. He should rely only on the letter and spirit of the GPA to determine who has not kept their side of the deal. This is a chance for Zuma to break with the past or to join Mbeki in defending Mugabe at all costs. We wait with baited breath!
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