Constitutional reform in Zimbabwe has gathered momentum with the outreach programme trying to capture views of Zimbabweans all over the country. This good work has, however, been overshadowed by ZANU PF thugs beating and scaring people away from participating in the outreach. Like always ZANU PF is scared of people power. When people come together to shape the future of our country ZANU PF is scared.
On the sidelines of the Outreach programme another debate is raging. People are arguing over the ‘best’ way to re-write our constitution. There are very good arguments on both sides of the debate but we risk taking our eyes off the ball and focusing on the sideshow. I have great respect for Dr Lovemore Madhuku and the civil society constitutional movement represented by the NCA. The NCA has done a great job in bringing ordinary people into the constitutional debate. I have my reservations about the current approach but it represents a real chance for constitutional reform in our troubled nation. The naked truth is that we need a new constitution not as a panacea to our political problems but as one of the building blocks towards a real democracy. On its own a constitution can never ensure a functional democracy but it can be the beginning.
What I am worried about is that those who really want constitutional reform are at each other’s throats leaving ZANU PF to laugh all the way to a rigged referendum. ZANU PF is happy with the current Constitutional dispensation and will give anything to maintain the status quo. The re-hiring of Jonathan Moyo as a ZANU PF adviser should serve as a warning to all of us. Faced with certain defeat against democratic forces movement in the 1999 referendum he shifted the goal posts. He knew that there was no chance of people voting with ZANU PF so he included things that people did not like so that they would vote against the draft constitution. In doing so we delivered the result that ZANU PF wanted - the return to the patched up Lancaster House constitution. In one stroke Jonathan Moyo and Godfrey Chidyausiku delivered to ZANU PF the victory they were craving for. The same scenario is about to repeat itself again. While civil society is busy campaigning against the ‘undemocratic’ manner in which the reform is being done, ZANU PF is busy forcing people not to take part in the process. Both these measures will result in fewer people engaging with the process and as a result a poorer product at the end of the process. The reason why ZPF want the Kariba Draft is that it keeps most of the controversial presidential powers in the person of the President. The plan in ZANU PF is to deliver a constitution that has controversial provisions so that people will once again vote against the new constitution.
How then do we deal with this problem? We have to set ourselves benchmarks that will allow us to support the new constitution. Even with flaws a new constitution is better than the patched up Lancaster House constitution. Some of the key things I would like to get out of this process are:
1. To enshrine the supremacy of parliament over the executive
2. That all senior appointments in government and quasi government bodies by the executive are ratified by both houses of parliament
3. That the President does not have power to override parliamentary legislation except in an emergency and that such temporary legislation is ratified by parliament within 21 days
4. That all judiciary nominations are subject to ratification by parliament through its Judicial Services Committee
5. That we have a fixed term parliament
6. That Presidents are limited to two five year terms
If we can ensure that these values are in our new constitution then we would have gone a long way in changing the politics of our country. This will ensure that the checks and balances on the executive are there. I am not saying we should throw the baby away with the bath water if some of these measures are not in the final draft constitution. Rather I am saying that we should keep an open mind and make a judgment as to whether the new constitution helps to change our political landscape for the better even though it omits some of the provisions we would have wanted included.
However, if we choose to fight each other and oppose the new constitution then we risk giving ZANU PF the right to ride roughshod over us for another generation. It is in ZANU PF interests to maintain the status quo and the infighting among the democratic forces plays right into their plan. The lesson we should take from 1999 is that it is better to adopt a new constitution with some flaws and then hope that we can refine it over the coming years. There is no guarantee that a constitution that includes all the things that different interest groups are pushing for will be a good constitution.
Let us stop ZANU PF by coming together and working together to influence the constitutional process. When the constitution comes to a referendum then we should push for a Yes Vote if we think that it reduces the Executive’s powers especially those of the President. I urge the NCA and its Civil Society partners to do the right thing by ensuring that we do not have another five years of the patched up Lancaster House Constitution. ZANU PF will laugh all the way to the ballot box if we do not reform the constitution.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Monday, 12 April 2010
Zimbabweans will feel cheated
The parties to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) have now failed to consummate it. There is now virtually no possibility that the GPA will ever be fully implemented. While the politicians are bickering and fighting over who is to blame for this failure to fully implement the GPA the people have continued to suffer under the burden of poverty.
Most Zimbabweans have no electricity, no water and other everyday needs. They are struggling to survive on little or no income because industries and other commercial organisations have not yet started recruiting workers. Against this background there is an even bigger tragedy happening across the country. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for ordinary people in Zimbabwe. The ushering in of the US dollar/ South African Rand monetary system was meant to slow down inflation as well as to bring back goods on the supermarket shelves. It was also meant to reduce the rate at which goods increase prices. The use of US dollars and SA Rands has cut down inflation and has made goods available in shops. What the policy has failed to do is to ensure that the prices charged by utility companies (water, electricity and phone) and other service providers are reasonable in terms of the foreign currencies that are being used in the country. What is clear is that, based on their buying power, the US dollar and the Rand are less valuable in Zimbabwe than in their native countries. This means that the prices people are paying are still as astronomical as they were when we were paying in Zimbabwe dollars.
This is clearly illustrated by the medical costs where you are forced to take your relative to private hospital because the state hospitals cannot treat them or because there are no specialists at state hospitals to treat them. I am not talking about people choosing to go private hospitals because they can afford it but people who have no choice because if they do not take the loved ones to a private hospital/ clinic then chances are that their loved ones will die. I strongly believe that the role of government is to ensure that there is fairness especially for the vulnerable. Medical bills have become too expensive for most people in Zimbabwe resulting in people who shouldn’t die dying. Medical bills for hospitalisation at private institutions range from 300USD to 500USD for three days excluding food which is paid for separately. So if you stay in hospital for nine days you will have to pay 1500USD for the stay then pay for the food and medication separately. The food and medication could set you back another 2000 – 3000USD. The cost of a pint of blood at private clinics is 600USD while it costs 50USD in state hospitals. I have evidence for these figures because I have paid or have been charged these amounts in the last few weeks. If people who give their blood freely realised that they could fail to get blood when they need it if they do not have fifty dollars or more they would think twice before donating blood. Most people give blood because they believe that it could save lives without realising that it will only save the lives of those with money. I propose that if the government does not urgently take action then those who give blood should consider selling their blood to the Blood Transfusion Service to ensure that they have the money to pay for blood when eventually they need transfusions.
It will be a sad day when the Blood Transfusion Service will have to pay more than a soft drink and a biscuit for a pint of blood. However, government inaction leaves people no option but to act selfishly. People elect governments to ensure that all people (rich and poor) can go to hospital and receive treatment that is good and affordable. I call on government to seriously look into the amounts being charged by utility companies and private hospitals in order to ensure that they are commensurate with the salaries that are being paid to people. It is immoral that these companies and organisations are allowed to act with impunity. Both MDC and ZANU PF claim to stand for ordinary people but evidence on the ground does not seem to suggest this. We need intervention from government on behalf of the poor to ensure that all people get the benefits of introducing US dollars and SA Rands into the Zimbabwean economy. Until this happens the people will feel cheated by this Government of National Unity. I do not blame the businesses and private hospitals for taking advantage of the new dispensation because the people we pay to protect us from this are doing nothing. The government is failing the ordinary people.
Most Zimbabweans have no electricity, no water and other everyday needs. They are struggling to survive on little or no income because industries and other commercial organisations have not yet started recruiting workers. Against this background there is an even bigger tragedy happening across the country. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for ordinary people in Zimbabwe. The ushering in of the US dollar/ South African Rand monetary system was meant to slow down inflation as well as to bring back goods on the supermarket shelves. It was also meant to reduce the rate at which goods increase prices. The use of US dollars and SA Rands has cut down inflation and has made goods available in shops. What the policy has failed to do is to ensure that the prices charged by utility companies (water, electricity and phone) and other service providers are reasonable in terms of the foreign currencies that are being used in the country. What is clear is that, based on their buying power, the US dollar and the Rand are less valuable in Zimbabwe than in their native countries. This means that the prices people are paying are still as astronomical as they were when we were paying in Zimbabwe dollars.
This is clearly illustrated by the medical costs where you are forced to take your relative to private hospital because the state hospitals cannot treat them or because there are no specialists at state hospitals to treat them. I am not talking about people choosing to go private hospitals because they can afford it but people who have no choice because if they do not take the loved ones to a private hospital/ clinic then chances are that their loved ones will die. I strongly believe that the role of government is to ensure that there is fairness especially for the vulnerable. Medical bills have become too expensive for most people in Zimbabwe resulting in people who shouldn’t die dying. Medical bills for hospitalisation at private institutions range from 300USD to 500USD for three days excluding food which is paid for separately. So if you stay in hospital for nine days you will have to pay 1500USD for the stay then pay for the food and medication separately. The food and medication could set you back another 2000 – 3000USD. The cost of a pint of blood at private clinics is 600USD while it costs 50USD in state hospitals. I have evidence for these figures because I have paid or have been charged these amounts in the last few weeks. If people who give their blood freely realised that they could fail to get blood when they need it if they do not have fifty dollars or more they would think twice before donating blood. Most people give blood because they believe that it could save lives without realising that it will only save the lives of those with money. I propose that if the government does not urgently take action then those who give blood should consider selling their blood to the Blood Transfusion Service to ensure that they have the money to pay for blood when eventually they need transfusions.
It will be a sad day when the Blood Transfusion Service will have to pay more than a soft drink and a biscuit for a pint of blood. However, government inaction leaves people no option but to act selfishly. People elect governments to ensure that all people (rich and poor) can go to hospital and receive treatment that is good and affordable. I call on government to seriously look into the amounts being charged by utility companies and private hospitals in order to ensure that they are commensurate with the salaries that are being paid to people. It is immoral that these companies and organisations are allowed to act with impunity. Both MDC and ZANU PF claim to stand for ordinary people but evidence on the ground does not seem to suggest this. We need intervention from government on behalf of the poor to ensure that all people get the benefits of introducing US dollars and SA Rands into the Zimbabwean economy. Until this happens the people will feel cheated by this Government of National Unity. I do not blame the businesses and private hospitals for taking advantage of the new dispensation because the people we pay to protect us from this are doing nothing. The government is failing the ordinary people.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Mugabe’s problem with Malema
This week has seen the arrival of the controversial leader of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema. This was considered good by ZANU PF who considered an endorsement of their policies from him as a coup against the MDC. After all he had publicly endorsed the chaotic land reform, called the Dear Leader a hero and spoke the ‘revolutionary’ speak that resonates well with the ZANU PF supporters. However the Shona people have a saying that says ‘Unofarira n’anga neinobata mai (Praising a healer who will accuse your mother of being the witch)’.
There are two things that would have embarrassed Mugabe and his party during the recent visit of Julius Malema.
The first issue that left Mugabe with egg on his face is that Malema actually told ZANU PF what no other ANC leader has had courage to. Speaking to ZANU PF Youths he is reported to have said, “But militancy does not mean cutting people hands, militancy does not mean violent politics...” Reading the lines here shows that Malema is telling Mugabe that his party is a party of violence and that it must change. Even though I do not like Malema’s politics I think he hit the nail on the head here by telling ZANU PF that they are the party that has visited violence on the people of Zimbabwe. There is no ambiguity here. ZANU PF kills and maims people and it must stop this if they are to be trusted by the people of Zimbabwe. Malema also suggested that ZANU PF had run out of ideas so they were resorting to violence. His words were, “Those who think violence is a means for solutions, they cannot think, that is why they introduce violent politics in the politics of Zimbabwe…” This drills huge holes into the claims by ZANU PF that MDC is a violent party. Even though MDC leaders have been arrested more than ZANU PF leaders on charges of violence we now know the truth because a close friend of ZANU PF has told us. It is no longer the European and American imperialists telling us Mugabe and ZANU PF are violent. It is his friends. Vakapemberera n’anga yakabata mai (The ZANU PF traditional healer accused of being a witch).
Malema also appeared to suggest that whites are better looking than black people. This will disappoint Mugabe who has been quoted as saying that white people stink. It will also disappoint those of us who believe in the beauty of all humanity regardless of their skin colour. But the controversial Malema thinks otherwise. Having captured the headlines with his rhetoric against white people, white interests and all things white Malema appeared to change his mind. In remarks attributed to him in Mbare Malema is reported to have said, “They are so bright, they are colourful, we refer to them as white people, maybe their colour came as a result of exploiting our minerals and perhaps if some of us can get opportunities in these minerals we can develop some nice colour like them." This seems to suggest that he is unhappy with the colour of his skin. For a ‘young revolutionary’ who has made it his life’s career to verbally attack white people this is the kind of mixed message that shows there is a chink in that ‘shining black armour’. I am sure Robert Mugabe winced when he read these reports.
The lesson from all this seems to be that it is political suicide for anyone to rely on unpredictable, fringe politicians like Malema to put across your views. Mugabe will rue having given Malema a red carpet reception.
There are two things that would have embarrassed Mugabe and his party during the recent visit of Julius Malema.
The first issue that left Mugabe with egg on his face is that Malema actually told ZANU PF what no other ANC leader has had courage to. Speaking to ZANU PF Youths he is reported to have said, “But militancy does not mean cutting people hands, militancy does not mean violent politics...” Reading the lines here shows that Malema is telling Mugabe that his party is a party of violence and that it must change. Even though I do not like Malema’s politics I think he hit the nail on the head here by telling ZANU PF that they are the party that has visited violence on the people of Zimbabwe. There is no ambiguity here. ZANU PF kills and maims people and it must stop this if they are to be trusted by the people of Zimbabwe. Malema also suggested that ZANU PF had run out of ideas so they were resorting to violence. His words were, “Those who think violence is a means for solutions, they cannot think, that is why they introduce violent politics in the politics of Zimbabwe…” This drills huge holes into the claims by ZANU PF that MDC is a violent party. Even though MDC leaders have been arrested more than ZANU PF leaders on charges of violence we now know the truth because a close friend of ZANU PF has told us. It is no longer the European and American imperialists telling us Mugabe and ZANU PF are violent. It is his friends. Vakapemberera n’anga yakabata mai (The ZANU PF traditional healer accused of being a witch).
Malema also appeared to suggest that whites are better looking than black people. This will disappoint Mugabe who has been quoted as saying that white people stink. It will also disappoint those of us who believe in the beauty of all humanity regardless of their skin colour. But the controversial Malema thinks otherwise. Having captured the headlines with his rhetoric against white people, white interests and all things white Malema appeared to change his mind. In remarks attributed to him in Mbare Malema is reported to have said, “They are so bright, they are colourful, we refer to them as white people, maybe their colour came as a result of exploiting our minerals and perhaps if some of us can get opportunities in these minerals we can develop some nice colour like them." This seems to suggest that he is unhappy with the colour of his skin. For a ‘young revolutionary’ who has made it his life’s career to verbally attack white people this is the kind of mixed message that shows there is a chink in that ‘shining black armour’. I am sure Robert Mugabe winced when he read these reports.
The lesson from all this seems to be that it is political suicide for anyone to rely on unpredictable, fringe politicians like Malema to put across your views. Mugabe will rue having given Malema a red carpet reception.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Time to start formulating a new strategy
A lot has happened in the weeks and months since I last wrote on this blog. Zimbabwean politics moves at hurricane pace in terms of events but sadly this is not the case with regard to progress in solving the perennial problems bedevilling our country.
We have seen the restart, suspension, and restart of the doomed talks between MDC, ZANU PF and Arthur Mutambara. We have also seen the start of Senator Roy Bennett’s trial which has provided some lighter moments especially the reported exchanges between the ‘Zanunised’ Attorney General Tomana and Mr Hitschmann. Then we learned that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s properties had been attached for failure to service debts even though the ‘impeccable’ Gideon Gono is still the governor there. ZANU PF has been throwing the toys around because they have failed to fool and/or blackmail the West into lifting the targeted sanctions.
In the midst of all this drama we seem to have lost the plot a bit. By ‘we’ I mean all Zimbabweans outside of ZANU PF. In this theatre of absurdity we have allowed ZANU PF to regain initiative by moving the debate away from the real issues to sanctions and now the idea of holding the elections under the current constitutional dispensation. ZANU PF has been milking every opportunity to stall the progress towards a new Zimbabwe. In a clear sign that they are preparing for war we now hear that Andrew Langa and Joyce Mujuru were launching a parallel outreach process for the constitution. Everyone knows what ZANU PF’s idea of outreach is – broken bones, dead bodies, burnt homes, the list goes on. The farm invasions have intensified with Judges and Magistrates bribed into bending the law through farm offers. There are too many red flags to ignore.
While I never thought the MDC could get concessions from ZANU PF on all outstanding issues I still believed that there would be progress on some issues. Things are not looking good at the negotiations so we may have to start planning for an alternative ending. ZANU PF is trying to push MDC into leaving the GNU so that they can call elections without having to negotiate. If at all possible, the MDC should hang in there so as to frustrate ZANU PF’s plan to cheat the people of Zimbabwe of the future they deserve. The noises coming from Jacob Zuma and his SADC do not inspire confidence. Now he wants Zimbabwe to hold elections without sorting out the outstanding GPA issues. It would appear that Zimbabweans were used by the South African government as pawns in the politics of the World Cup. Now that the World Cup is in the bag South Africa does not care a hoot about the welfare of the Zimbabwean people. If ZANU PF chooses to kill thousands of Zimbabweans as part of an election campaign that takes place after the World Cup then it won’t matter.
The recent appeal to SADC and AU concerning the talks by the MDC should be viewed in the light of recent events. There is little or no chance that these two ‘esteemed’ African organizations will do anything about Mugabe’s wayward behaviour. The MDC must begin planning for a post GNU scenario. Everyone acknowledges that the MDC has done all it can to return Zimbabwe to the community of nations and to improve the economics of the country but it is likely that their position in the GNU will soon become untenable. They, therefore, must have a clear plan of action to counter ZANU PF strategy. The strategists in the party should come up with a comprehensive plan that covers all the things that could go wrong. As the cliché goes ‘Failure to plan is planning to fail’. The MDC appears to have been lulled into a false sense of security. I may be wrong but I think MDC is not planning for the worst. It would be tragic if when the GNU collapses or outlives its usefulness the MDC find themselves without a plan for countering ZANU PF. In 2008 we were caught off guard but once beaten twice shy. We should never allow ZANU PF to catch us napping again. Like always I do not expect the MDC to share their plans with us lesser mortals but those in the driving seat of the organisation should have a clear idea of what the organisation will do in the event of a premature end to the GNU. I am just worried that the MDC may be left without a chair when the music stops...
We have seen the restart, suspension, and restart of the doomed talks between MDC, ZANU PF and Arthur Mutambara. We have also seen the start of Senator Roy Bennett’s trial which has provided some lighter moments especially the reported exchanges between the ‘Zanunised’ Attorney General Tomana and Mr Hitschmann. Then we learned that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s properties had been attached for failure to service debts even though the ‘impeccable’ Gideon Gono is still the governor there. ZANU PF has been throwing the toys around because they have failed to fool and/or blackmail the West into lifting the targeted sanctions.
In the midst of all this drama we seem to have lost the plot a bit. By ‘we’ I mean all Zimbabweans outside of ZANU PF. In this theatre of absurdity we have allowed ZANU PF to regain initiative by moving the debate away from the real issues to sanctions and now the idea of holding the elections under the current constitutional dispensation. ZANU PF has been milking every opportunity to stall the progress towards a new Zimbabwe. In a clear sign that they are preparing for war we now hear that Andrew Langa and Joyce Mujuru were launching a parallel outreach process for the constitution. Everyone knows what ZANU PF’s idea of outreach is – broken bones, dead bodies, burnt homes, the list goes on. The farm invasions have intensified with Judges and Magistrates bribed into bending the law through farm offers. There are too many red flags to ignore.
While I never thought the MDC could get concessions from ZANU PF on all outstanding issues I still believed that there would be progress on some issues. Things are not looking good at the negotiations so we may have to start planning for an alternative ending. ZANU PF is trying to push MDC into leaving the GNU so that they can call elections without having to negotiate. If at all possible, the MDC should hang in there so as to frustrate ZANU PF’s plan to cheat the people of Zimbabwe of the future they deserve. The noises coming from Jacob Zuma and his SADC do not inspire confidence. Now he wants Zimbabwe to hold elections without sorting out the outstanding GPA issues. It would appear that Zimbabweans were used by the South African government as pawns in the politics of the World Cup. Now that the World Cup is in the bag South Africa does not care a hoot about the welfare of the Zimbabwean people. If ZANU PF chooses to kill thousands of Zimbabweans as part of an election campaign that takes place after the World Cup then it won’t matter.
The recent appeal to SADC and AU concerning the talks by the MDC should be viewed in the light of recent events. There is little or no chance that these two ‘esteemed’ African organizations will do anything about Mugabe’s wayward behaviour. The MDC must begin planning for a post GNU scenario. Everyone acknowledges that the MDC has done all it can to return Zimbabwe to the community of nations and to improve the economics of the country but it is likely that their position in the GNU will soon become untenable. They, therefore, must have a clear plan of action to counter ZANU PF strategy. The strategists in the party should come up with a comprehensive plan that covers all the things that could go wrong. As the cliché goes ‘Failure to plan is planning to fail’. The MDC appears to have been lulled into a false sense of security. I may be wrong but I think MDC is not planning for the worst. It would be tragic if when the GNU collapses or outlives its usefulness the MDC find themselves without a plan for countering ZANU PF. In 2008 we were caught off guard but once beaten twice shy. We should never allow ZANU PF to catch us napping again. Like always I do not expect the MDC to share their plans with us lesser mortals but those in the driving seat of the organisation should have a clear idea of what the organisation will do in the event of a premature end to the GNU. I am just worried that the MDC may be left without a chair when the music stops...
Saturday, 17 October 2009
What Now?
The decision by the MDC to stop cooperating with Zanu PF at Cabinet and Council of Ministers level has met with mixed reactions. There are those who think that the MDC has made a tactical error by backing themselves into a corner. They argue that if nothing happens then the MDC will be forced to go back into the Unity Government with tails between legs. On the other hand are those who feel that the MDC did the right thing by taking action and making a clear statement that things are not working. Those on this side feel that the time has come to stop hoping that things will get better and to start taking concrete steps.
What, however, is clear is that both those who disagree with the decision and those who agree with it are all agreed that walking away from the GNU will be catastrophic. Everyone seems to realise that this deal offers more hope for our nation than a situation where Mugabe and his lieutenants take over the running of the country again. I am not privy to Zanu PF thinking so I do not know what they think about the total collapse of this deal. However, judging from the power hunger that pervades people in this party it would not be farfetched to think that most of them would relish the chance to run (ruin) the country as they did in the last thirty years. Many in Zanu PF including Robert Mugabe believe that they have divine right to rule Zimbabwe even after losing the elections. This explains why Robert Mugabe is not doing anything even where issues have been resolved and agreed. The issue of provincial governors is a case in point. One senses that they are trying to push the MDC into walking away then they go back to the policies that made Mugabe and his cronies rich while the rest of the population starved. You can see that there is nostalgia in Zanu PF for those days when they could do what they want, when Gideon Gono expropriated foreign currency from organisations and individuals without regard for the law and when nobody asked questions. Even though now they still do not provide answers many in Zanu PF feel uncomfortable that these questions are being asked. Soon the land audit will start asking some uncomfortable questions. These may not result in people giving back land (Zanu does not do giving back) but it will expose the greed and corruption at the heart of the whole land reform programme. It is, therefore, in the interests of Zanu PF that this Unity Government collapses because then they can go back to blaming others for the problems bedevilling our nation.
Given this scenario it is imperative that the MDCs (Mutambara included) define a clear course of action. There are some uncomfortable questions that should be asked. These questions include having to decide when pulling out of the GNU will become an option as well as how much time they are going to give Zanu PF before escalating the crisis. There has to be some bench marks to determine when continued participation is no longer possible. The MDC does not have to make these public but it does need to start planning for two outcomes - the possibility of the contentious issues being resolved and the GNU continuing and the possibility that things come to a head and the GNU collapses. I am of the opinion that we need to keep this government going for as long as we can but that when it becomes unworkable then we should disengage fully. Those in the relationship are better placed to make this judgement call. What we, on the outside, can only say is that when the time to make this decision comes then they must be widespread consultation to ensure that the decision has the support of ordinary people as well as those in the leadership of the party.
I do not subscribe to the school of thought that says that the MDC will be the main loser if the GNU fails. Zanu PF will still be the government but only in name because there won’t be a country to rule over. If anything, it may end up being the tipping point for Zanu PF as the people’s anger may boil over. Who knows even the docile Zimbabweans may not be willing to go through any more suffering just to keep Zanu PF in power. Therefore, Zanu PF will do well to think of the possible consequences before sounding the death knell on the GNU. The people are now aware that Zanu PF was given a lifeline through the GNU. If they choose to squander it then they will face the consequences.
The GNU, with all its shortcomings, allows the MDCs some measure of influence and control with regard to the destiny of our nation. For example it has made it impossible for Gono to unilaterally dispense of the World Bank funds. It has given them access to government information as well as an opportunity to show the people that they can be a government. Everyone you speak to is talking about how the MDC has brought change to people’s lives. Everyone is also aware that the pace of change is being slowed down by Zanu PF. These are the benefits accruing from the MDC’s participation in the GNU.
I applaud the decision to make a statement through the partial withdrawal but I would counsel caution and serious thought before the MDC fully withdraws from the GNU.
What, however, is clear is that both those who disagree with the decision and those who agree with it are all agreed that walking away from the GNU will be catastrophic. Everyone seems to realise that this deal offers more hope for our nation than a situation where Mugabe and his lieutenants take over the running of the country again. I am not privy to Zanu PF thinking so I do not know what they think about the total collapse of this deal. However, judging from the power hunger that pervades people in this party it would not be farfetched to think that most of them would relish the chance to run (ruin) the country as they did in the last thirty years. Many in Zanu PF including Robert Mugabe believe that they have divine right to rule Zimbabwe even after losing the elections. This explains why Robert Mugabe is not doing anything even where issues have been resolved and agreed. The issue of provincial governors is a case in point. One senses that they are trying to push the MDC into walking away then they go back to the policies that made Mugabe and his cronies rich while the rest of the population starved. You can see that there is nostalgia in Zanu PF for those days when they could do what they want, when Gideon Gono expropriated foreign currency from organisations and individuals without regard for the law and when nobody asked questions. Even though now they still do not provide answers many in Zanu PF feel uncomfortable that these questions are being asked. Soon the land audit will start asking some uncomfortable questions. These may not result in people giving back land (Zanu does not do giving back) but it will expose the greed and corruption at the heart of the whole land reform programme. It is, therefore, in the interests of Zanu PF that this Unity Government collapses because then they can go back to blaming others for the problems bedevilling our nation.
Given this scenario it is imperative that the MDCs (Mutambara included) define a clear course of action. There are some uncomfortable questions that should be asked. These questions include having to decide when pulling out of the GNU will become an option as well as how much time they are going to give Zanu PF before escalating the crisis. There has to be some bench marks to determine when continued participation is no longer possible. The MDC does not have to make these public but it does need to start planning for two outcomes - the possibility of the contentious issues being resolved and the GNU continuing and the possibility that things come to a head and the GNU collapses. I am of the opinion that we need to keep this government going for as long as we can but that when it becomes unworkable then we should disengage fully. Those in the relationship are better placed to make this judgement call. What we, on the outside, can only say is that when the time to make this decision comes then they must be widespread consultation to ensure that the decision has the support of ordinary people as well as those in the leadership of the party.
I do not subscribe to the school of thought that says that the MDC will be the main loser if the GNU fails. Zanu PF will still be the government but only in name because there won’t be a country to rule over. If anything, it may end up being the tipping point for Zanu PF as the people’s anger may boil over. Who knows even the docile Zimbabweans may not be willing to go through any more suffering just to keep Zanu PF in power. Therefore, Zanu PF will do well to think of the possible consequences before sounding the death knell on the GNU. The people are now aware that Zanu PF was given a lifeline through the GNU. If they choose to squander it then they will face the consequences.
The GNU, with all its shortcomings, allows the MDCs some measure of influence and control with regard to the destiny of our nation. For example it has made it impossible for Gono to unilaterally dispense of the World Bank funds. It has given them access to government information as well as an opportunity to show the people that they can be a government. Everyone you speak to is talking about how the MDC has brought change to people’s lives. Everyone is also aware that the pace of change is being slowed down by Zanu PF. These are the benefits accruing from the MDC’s participation in the GNU.
I applaud the decision to make a statement through the partial withdrawal but I would counsel caution and serious thought before the MDC fully withdraws from the GNU.
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