The MDC says it will begin a series of consultations and feedback rallies this weekend to assess whether to remain in the shaky power-sharing government with ZANU PF. In a press statement issued Friday the party said it would consult its supporters and 'the people of Zimbabwe...on the progress and the challenges facing the inclusive government.'
Starting this weekend 9 major rallies have been lined up across the country, with a least 39 ward consultations in six provinces meant to gauge the feeling of its members.
The MDC said this 'engagement' is in line with resolutions made by the National Council in Bulawayo last weekend. On Wednesday, party spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Newsreel they had given themselves one month to finish the exercise and make a decision about their continued participation in the unity government. He said the exercise would look at whether the inclusive government was a worthwhile and sustainable 'vehicle for real change and democracy in Zimbabwe'.
In Kariba at Kamhunga Stadium, MDC Treasurer-General and Senator Roy Bennett, who has been waiting seven months to be sworn in as Deputy Agriculture Minister, has been lined up as a guest speaker. Spokesman Nelson Chamisa will address a rally in Buhera North while Senator Morgan Komichi will be in Gokwe.
There is growing disillusionment within MDC ranks over the refusal by ZANU PF to honour its obligations under the unity deal. Over 7 months since the government was formed MDC appointed governors have not yet been sworn in and attempts continue apace by ZANU PF to take the telecommunications sector from the ministry controlled by Chamisa. Farm seizures and disturbances continue unabated, while the disputed unilateral appointments of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana remain unresolved.
The coalition in general has been plagued by a lack of sincerity from ZANU PF. Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba has been given unfettered control of the state media and has been abusing it to spew hate speech against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC and private independent Zimbabwe media. Parliamentarians from the MDC and other party officials continue to be selectively victimized by the police and the Attorney General's office. The same AG's office refuses to prosecute ZANU PF thugs responsible for last year's bloody election violence.
In different parts of the country MDC activists continue to be victimized. Last week in Mt Darwin two activists, Rebecca Chavunduka and Paul Chamboko, fled their homes in Kapiripiri village after being threatened by ZANU PF supporters. A colonel Zonge in the Zimbabwe National Army is said to be carrying out a 'clean-up exercise' of MDC supporters in the area. Zonge has even promised his hired thugs a new vehicle to use in their terror operations. Last year the same colonel was one of over 200 senior army officers deployed countrywide to carry out a campaign of terror and murder against opposition supporters, ahead of the one-man presidential run-off vote.
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The great failing of SADC, the initial failing of Mr Zuma..what did he think being hosted at a sumptuous dinner and never asking what has happened to all those who were maiming and murdering during the elections only months ago? Not even a question about the venomous Charamba who disregards the GPA and spews hate spech with impunity. No question about funds vanishing at RBZ and yet its vindictive Gono stays despite GPA provisions? And of course, does anyone expect Kabila to be any use? He can only drag ZW and the region to the level DRC is, or below.Shame.
Sadly, there is no other course at the present. The conditions of the GPA leading to the GNU have not been fulfilled over the preceeding 8 months, and ALL ZANU-PF's mouthpieces want to talk about are "sanctions" which happen to be against them and no one else..........
The RBZ and AG appointments have NOT been addressed as MDC-T was promised when they signed the GPA, the political crackdown against their activists has not stopped, the farm invasions continue to create farms that produce nothing as opposed to farms that provide food for Zimbabwe........
Oh yes! The Herald continues to spew ridicule and hate upon MDC-T - the "Herald" is supposedly published by the "Government" of Zimbabwe - so once the GPA was signed, why did the Herald continue on it's NAZI course?
MDC-T has accomplished nothing by being part of the GNU except the abandonment of the sovereign currency - which itself was a GOOD thing, to stabilize prices.
But otherwise, ZANU-PF/Mugabe (I do NOT differentiate between the two) have interferred or blocked EVERY effort by MDC-T to return Zimbabwe to a Nation under law as opposed to a Nation under ZANU-PF/Mugabe.
So I say - go ahead, withdraw from the GNU! Return to an opposition party - MDC-T controls Parliament for the time being, so "go ahead ZANU-PF/Mugabe - try to govern without a majority on Parliament or with the international structures without OUR smiling faces"!
See how far Zimbabwe goes without MDC-T as a participant in the government - Oh yes, we know about Iran....... Yes, ZANU-PF can continue to rule for the near-term future, but theyy are just delaying the final call, when they WILL be called to account for their "stewardship" of Zimbabwe.........
Mugabe does NOT "own" Zimbabwe as he famously claimed. Neither to the U.S. or the U.K., but the people of Zimbabwe!
If the safety net of patronage and corruption is torn away out from under ZANU-PF/Mugabe, then ask yourself just how deep is their support?
Since ZANU-PF is obviouly NOT an honest partner - MDC-T should just resign and force ZANU-PF/Mugabe to "govern" without them and without their parliamentary majority...............
Sure........... "govern without us"..........
"Total Empowerment!", ZANU-PF "PROMISED" it, not MDC-T, how "empowered" are you?
The independent media needs to look at themsleves in the mirror because they are also churning out more hate speech than the state media. Its high time both the state and independent media refrain from inciting hatred among people. The healing process is a sensitive area which needs restraint and responsibility on the part of the media. Its not a declaration of war on each other, and lets face it, political problems require political solutions and remember in a was situation, the law will not be able to protect anyone including the state and independent media.
TD:
When has the "State" media stopped spewing hate? Isn't the "government" of Zimbabwe that the Herald allegedly represents (according to the byline) also include MDC-T? Why has the paper that suppossedly speaks for the "government" continue to berate it's employer?
THERE IS NO HEALING IN ZIMBABWE right now! Just a band-aid over a bleeding and festering sore that is ZANU-PF/Mugabe's cruelty and intransigence.
As i posted earlier, Bloodstained Bob ain't gonna live forever, I don't see that ZANU-PF has a Plan B, and THAT has a bloody ending that would be horrible for everyone, whether you are a ZANU-PF sychophant or MDC-T supporter - ALL Zimbabwe loses in such an outcome........
But there is NO healing right now! ZANU-PF continues to act as if they "own" Zimbabwe and treat others as if they do not matter. Contrary to Bloodstained Bob's claims that "Zimbabwe is Mine" (his quote - I didn't make that up!), Zimbabwe is moving past his idiotic post-liberation dogma. It's ZANU-PF that isn't keeping up with the times, thus, their days are numbered - unless their cadres institute a civil war...............
But a war serves no one, not the evil "West", certainly not ZANU-PF, but who exactly do you think will end up winning a 2nd "War of Liberation"?
Until there is justice and reconciliation for the evils ZANU-PF/Mugabe has burdened Zimbabwe with, there will be no peace and reconciliation. THAT is exactly why ZANU-PF is failing despite their best efforts to manipulate the facts - no one believes it anymore.........
There is either a gracefull exit by ZANU-PF/Mugabe by deferring to the masses, or there will be bloodshed - I don't hope for it - yet it seems the course Zimbabwe is on.
True healing and reconciliation will occur when ZANU-PF are thrown out of power and are forced to acknowledge their crimes to the peolple of Zimbabwe - NOT the "West"........ When ZANU-PF acknowledge and accept the role they have played in decimating the the nation of Zimbabwe, the rest of the nation of Zimbabwe will decide whether or not to forgive them........
Until then........
"Total Empowerment!" TD - surely YOU must be "totally empowered!"?
SW Radio and Alex Bell are at it again....with more lies and propaganda. The discontentment by MDC-Tsvangirai does not mean that the MDC wants to pull out! This is outrightly a lie, like most of SW Radio Rhodesian propaganda. SW Radio is busy using Africa names only as a cover and this will not work. The MDC, under Tsvangirai especially fully knows the consequences of leaving the GNU. If they were to leave, where would they go? To Botswana? To South Africa..I doubt it.
The bottom line is that the MDC would also loose popularity in Zimbabwe and I doubt if any of Zimbabwean neigbour would want them in! The situation is more complicated than the stupid, foolish, white rhodesian spoils that SW Radio is writing. SADC now controls the MDC...like it or not. If the MDC was to move out other oppossition parties would quickly move in to fill the void and Mugabe would campaign to portray the MDC as a "RHodes" and western controlled group. SW RADIO STOP THE RUBBISH!!!
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