22 September 2009
editorial
Recent developments in Zimbabwe portend grave danger for that country's Government of National Unity. Under the Global Political Agreement (GPA), a power - sharing deal brokered by then - South African President Thabo Mbeki, a little over a year ago, long serving President Robert Mugabe remained in his post, while his political rival and former labour leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, became Prime Minister.
The GPA was the outcome of months of negotiations that had followed an election in which hundreds of opposition supporters were killed and thousands forced from their homes. It vests command of the Army in Mugabe's ZANU-PF, while the opposition MDC controls the Republic Force. Control of government ministries is also the responsibility of parties to the pact. The agreement was hailed as a breakthrough to stem political unrest and a total collapse of the country's economy.
Although the power-sharing agreement was signed on September 15, 2008, a Government of National Unity was only formed in February 2009, after Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister. The delay was largely due to Mugabe's seeming reluctance to let go of some of his powers, and a bitter brawl over which party would control key ministries and posts. There was heightened tension again last week when Tsvangirai and Mugabe traded blames over the many problems bedeviling the unity government. Both men also expressed their reservations about the GPA.
Addressing tens of thousands of supporters at a rally last week, Tsvangirai expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the power-sharing agreement. He said he only agreed to the unity pact to halt the crushing hardships that Zimbabweans faced last year. The Prime Minister, who stated that the MDC was considering pulling out of the coalition, also expressed anger at the frequent intimidation and detention of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), a move, which he said was targeted at whittling away the MDC's parliamentary majority.
At a rival rally where he addressed ZANU-PF's youth wing, Mugabe described the unity government as a "situation we should and could have avoided." The President, who stopped short of questioning the whole idea of the power-sharing agreement, accused the MDC of being idealistic.
It is a thing of regret that at a time the parties to the unity government should be working towards leading Zimbabwe on the path of full recovery, they are feuding over who gets the most powerful positions. To say the least, the situation is unwholesome and doesn't bode well for the country.
Ordinarily, the interests of the long traumatized people of Zimbabwe should be uppermost in the minds of those to whom the future of the country has been entrusted. Given the recent history of the once prosperous Southern African nation, which has been likened to a failed state, everything should be done, not only to give life a meaning, but to rekindle hope of a better future in the country's 13 million citizens.
Tsvangirai and his MDC should banish any thought of quitting the unity government as such a move would throw the country into more uncertainly, and even chaos. As the Prime Minister himself pointed out recently, coalition governments require certain compromise on policy. Of course, friction is not unexpected, given the often fundamental differences in the make-up of the parties to such an arrangement. It is, thus, incumbent on ZANU-PF and MDC to find a common ground in the interest of the country.
It is instructive to note that despite the generally slow pace of governance in Zimbabwe, some progress has been achieved. Hyperinflation is no longer at its peak of 200 million percent and there has been an increase in overall production. It goes to show that if there is a genuine desire by politicians to serve, the life of Zimbabweans would be transformed a lot more.
Much still remains to be done and it is only in an atmosphere devoid of rancour, bitterness and violence, that the benefits of the unity government would be fully realized. The challenges before the unity government include a cholera epidemic which has claimed close to 5,000 lives in the last one year, and a 94 percent unemployment rate.
The international community, particularly the African Union (AU) and the Southern Africa Development Commission (SADC), should wade into the current impasse. But it must be said that only Zimbabweans can find a lasting solution to their problems. Mugabe and Tsvangirai should work together with an eye on constitutionalism. Rather than take issue with each other on the governance of the country, they should work towards the full implementation of the power-sharing agreement, in the interest of the people.
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