Kholwani Nyathi
16 May 2009
THE inclusive government this week celebrates its first 100 days in office amid increasing frustration at the speed at which the coalition is implementing reforms to haul Zimbabwe out of its political and economic morass.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to address Parliament this week on progress made by the government during its first three months in office, which elapse on Saturday.
Some of the achievements he is likely to list include the re-opening of schools and hospitals that were closed for the better part of last year due to unending strikes.
Tsvangirai is also likely to hail Zimbabwe's re-engagement with the international community after years of isolation and the renewed interest in the country as an investment destination.
The inclusive government has also made strides in addressing food security with basic commodities now readily available while the rehabilitation of the economy battered by years of ruinous policies is now well underway.
But analysts say the government has little to celebrate as major reforms promised in the global political agreement were still to be carried out.
They said there was also evidence that Zanu PF hardliners were still unwilling to embrace change.
According to the September 15 power-sharing agreement signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations, which led to the formation of the inclusive government in February, some of the key result areas for the coalition included the release of all political prisoners and providing an environment conducive for economic revival.
However, the first 100 days have been characterised by the failure to resolve outstanding issues, policy contradictions, conflicts over minsterial duties, fresh farm invasions and continued human rights violations.
There have also been disagreements between civil society and government on how to draft a new constitution for the country.
"Very little has changed under this inclusive government," spokesperson for the revived Zapu, Smile Dube, said.
"Journalists and lawyers still get arrested for doing their jobs and there is evidence that some partners in the coalition have not embraced the spirit of the inclusive government.
"We still have a disgruntled civil service, which is always threatening strikes and hospitals still do not have adequate drugs as well as doctors and nurses."
The government convinced civil servants including teachers and health professionals to return to work after it got support from donors to pay them US$100 allowances across the board.
However, efforts to get more donor support to improve on the salaries have hit a brick wall, leading civil servants to threaten another round of strikes.
While some countries and banking institutions have availed over US$1 billion in lines of credit for the inclusive government, little inflows have been recorded in terms of budgetary support.
Major lenders have adopted a wait-and-see approach as the parties continue to differ on outstanding issues that include Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono's reappointment.
The donors are reluctant to release their money to a treasury where Gono, who is accused of abusing funds to sustain President Robert Mugabe's previous regime, is still in charge.
Mugabe is reportedly unwilling to give in to the MDC-T's demands for Gono and Attorney-General Johannes Tomana to be relieved of their duties as part of last year's agreement.
Donors are also not impressed with the continued arrest of human rights activists and the government's hostility towards journalists.
Ernest Mudzengi, a Harare-based political analyst, said Zimbabweans were fast losing confidence in the unity government because of the delayed reforms and continuous squabbles in the coalition.
"The disagreements in the inclusive government that are in the public domain are indicative of the serious problems it is facing," he said.
"They are particularly indicative of the fact that Zanu PF is not committed to sharing power and instead it wants the relationship of a horse and rider."
He said although there was evidence that things had changed in the country, Zanu PF's reluctance to reform remained a major disadvantage for the coalition.
Tsvangirai last week expressed frustration that some hardliners from the previous administration were delaying progress but insisted that his party would not pull out of the coalition.
"Mugabe is still in charge and nothing has changed," said Paul Siwela who lost the 2002 presidential elections to the 85- year-old leader.
"There is very little that Tsvangirai can do to change the country because he does not chair cabinet and will find it very difficult to influence things."
Siwela said instead Mugabe and his loyalists were seeing the inclusive government as an opportunity to recover from the setbacks they suffered in last year's elections where Zanu PF was almost toppled from power for the first time since 1980.
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30 years of Zanu PF rule was quite evident 102 days ago you can not compare the current Zimbabwe with the pre GNU where shortages of money, commodities and inflation was the order of the day. So its unfair to suggest that '100 Days - GNU Has Little to Show for It' No sane person would want to return to that era.
Juhlman;
The "small improvements I think we can all agree upon that are better than before March '08" are not as a result of the GNU per se. Many of these are to do with people's attitude towards their country. For example cholera was arrested well before the birth of the GNU but because you, the demons of this world, did not want to admit it you kept on publishing falsehoods to the detriment of our country.
The adoption of other currencies was done well before the GNU and this resulted in shelves being stocked with basic goods which had been hoarded by manufacturers at the instigation of MDC. Simultaneously, inflation was then arrested and this was not as a result of what Chachacha said "30 years compared to 102 days", a big NO. The paying of USD100 allowances to civil servants was planned well before the GNU. STERP was only implemented after the GNU but the contents and formulation of this document was done before the GNU.
However, I agree with you though that there are some things that improved with the coming of the GNU. For instance the demonization of our country has suddenly declined because Tsvangirai and his MDC party have, at least publicly, stopped selling out. They have gone out of their way to publicly denounce sanctions imposed on the people of Zimbabwe. They have publicly called on the countries that have imposed sanctions on our country to remove them as they are hurting the ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai, since taking office, has not traveled to a single western capital and has not done any “swinging” with McGee and that is a positive development and it shows a great paradigm shift from their previous stance and attitude of wanting to make Zimbabweans suffer and die under the illegal western sanctions.
This is a positive development unlike previously when Tsvangirai and Biti would make it their pre-occupation to travel from one western capital to another campaigning for sanctions to make Zimbabweans suffer so that they could be voted into power - and they were nearly voted as a result of that effort. Zimbabweans look forward to seeing further improvements in both attitude and the way of doing things from the likes of Tsvangirai and Biti. Tsvangirai and Biti should know that it is always Zimbabwe first and foremost and then anything else last!!!
Wacky Tacky, when are you going to get it through your thick skull that Tsvangirai never called for sanctions on his people?
You cant provide any evidence of this because it never happened!
AWT-INDEPENDENT'S SAGACITY
"Even if mighty Great Britain admits that it imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, I dont care. Sanctions should be left in place until Murgagbage leaves office. If the people of Zimbabwe suffer, so be it: I cant agree more."
It disturbs me when former Muzorewa auxiliary forces like Tukunya ndebvu continue mourning about unfounded allegations of the western sanctions. Evidence is there for anyone to see that change is now in Zimbabwe, ex auxiliary forces such as ticks in beards (Tuku Ndebvu) still shout to divide the country so that they could benefit from looting and corrupt tendencies.
Bhodlumlilo gt;
If you really believe that I am a former Dzakutsaku, which I am not though, then you should comment me and applaud my ability to quickly turn from being a sellout to becoming a strong defender of the revolution, the country and the people of Zimbabwe.
I, Takunya Wa Ndebvu, am a true cadre of the revolution who fought against Ian Smith's racism, dispossession, oppression, subjugation, slavery and all the ills of colonialism.
The Dzakutsaku who repented in 1980 and continue, to this day, to support and defend the revolution should forever be relied upon because they never wave. You know as much as I do that Muzorewa's Auxiliary Forces were responsible for the massacre, not only of innocent Zimbabweans, but missionaries as well and blamed it on Vana Mukoma (the comrades).
For people like that, after repenting in 1980 and then go through the suffering brought about by MDC when it campaigned for sanctions but still support the party and revolution they used to fight against, is highly commendable and should be applauded.
Tacky, if you fought against all those things, what stopped you going on. A revolution goes round and round and roooound, You of all the great freedom fighters should be fighting for the people to rid it of the great sinner, Bob.
See all comments (12).
Maybe now is the time for higher expectations when it comes to Zimbabwe...... At least:
- Cholera has finally been arrested, for the most part - SOME hospitals have reopened - SOME schools have reopened - albeit with some grumbling about fees - Inflation has been curbed, to an extent, with the abandonment of the national currency. - FOOD is now on the shelves at some stores, with inflated prices certainly, but food today is at least mathematically close to what food will be in a couple of days.... Warnings of famine and malnourishment seem less dire now that NGO deliveries are ensured through the end of 2009.
So the GNU actually HAS been a success of some sort...........
No matter whether you're ANTI-ZANU-PF/Mugabe or ANTI-MDC, the above actually ARE some small improvements I think we can all agree upon that are better than before March '08.......
The continued farm invasions and press harassment are still issues to be concerned about, and I worry about the future of any "Truth and Reconciliation" in Zimbabwe, but you have to admit, things have stopped getting WORSE!
There's a long way to go, and Zimbabwe has to deal with the white farmers - it's politically incorrect to not accept multi-culturalism these days......
BUT, I sense a glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe, at least things are NOT getting worse, things can only get better, right?
The media and press will eventually be free, not even ZANU-PF can stop that! ZANU-PF's grip is already lapsing, they're jockeying for power now to ensure their future (they have to accept the inevitibility) "someday, Bob's gonna die". A land audit is needed, a single person (inclusive of their family - to ensure "fairness" to all Zimbabweans) only "need" a single farm to ensure to the appropriate "re-distribution" of the land......
Lots still left to do, but I sense Zimbabwe has turned a corner - I hope that is something we all can agree upon.