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.
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