Harare — In a move that marks yet another sad chapter in Zimbabwe's troubled history, the MDC-T is reportedly mulling plans to withdraw from the inclusive government -- a cluster of different political trends, which are often contradictory.
The MDC-T's lunatic fringe pushing for the pullout contends that ZANU-PF refuses to answer the crying need for deep political reform to the extent that the inclusive government is only so in name.
They feel that the two MDCs in the coalition are impotent, rendering Morgan Tsvangirai, placed a distant fourth in the government hierarchy, a lame duck Prime Minister.
Of course, it goes without saying that in such delicate political situations, highly charged rhetoric is always substituted for informed analysis.
President Robert Mugabe last week maintained that the inclusive government was a genuine power-sharing arrangement. But his partners in the inclusive government are singing from a different hymn sheet.
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara recently implied ZANU-PF's actions mock their words because there is only the most tenuous evidence of power-sharing.
"...You can see that we are not in full control. We are not exactly in charge. There are other forces in control...," he said in a resigned sort of way as the discord inside the transitional government escalated into open schism.
"Our hands are tied," is Mutambara's lament. Hardly a message of hope to a hurting nation.
In the past Tsvangirai has intimated the same. It does not take rocket science for one to understand the political meaning and basic significance of this scepticism.
It can only mean one thing. The other two partners in the inclusive government, Tsvangirai and Mutambara are increasingly disenchanted with ZANU-PF. Hence the undoubted corroding sense of futility about the inclusive government.
We will be the first to admit that Mutambara's admission that new political realities remain a pipe-dream and his overwhelming sense of powerlessness, suspicion and scepticism about the inclusive government can only be lamentable, coming as it does from one of the two men brought into this arrangement to give a fresh impetus to the democratic renewal of the country.
But it would however, be disingenuous of us as a nation to pretend that we do not understand why the strange bedfellows have failed to achieve a realignment of Zimbabwean politics.
The fact is that the inclusive government was delayed and repeatedly postponed precisely because it was not wanted by both ZANU-PF and MDC-T except probably MDC-M for obvious reasons. And the unwanted child was always going to be imperfect.
The frustrations and disappointments over the glaring failures of the inclusive government cut across the political and economic fronts.
The inclusive government has not breathed the much-anticipated electric jolt through the economy. This is mainly because of two reasons.
First, the international community remains highly sceptical of ZANU-PF's sincerity in power-sharing. Second, there has been no realistic attempt to solve the country's problems by the feuding politicians whose main concern is either to lose as little as possible or gain as much as possible politically.
The only discernible change, which many feel has more to do with the adoption of multiple currencies than the efficiency of government to develop predictable macro economics and stability, is that there are plenty of goods in the shops only recently as bare as the Soviet ones before the collapse of communism.
Sanity has also seemingly returned to the main stream economy compared to a few months ago when the entire economy was operating outside the law where everyone had been highly educated in the workings of the black market.
Be that as it may, we believe that this coalition is not too bad to save. Rather, it is too important to fail! Thus, although they are still reportedly consulting their supporters country-wide on the issue, the threats by the MDC-T to pull out of the power-sharing arrangement should be rescinded.
It is short-sighted and premature. Indeed the MDC-T, which might have genuine grievances must keep their eyes focused on the big picture -- the collective responsibility to get Zimbabwe working again.
They should never be tempted to throw away the baby together with the bath water. Thus the MDC-T leadership should weigh the implications of such a move and what will happen if they do not go ahead with the pull out.
Otherwise there is the real danger that the country could be plunged into terrible darkness. The MDC might not have been a factor in Zimbabwe's immediate political past. But it is now central to its future. Thus if the party pulls out of the government, Zimbabwe's political life will be noticeably shaken.
Such a move will heighten tensions, posing the single biggest threat to the much-hoped for far-reaching political reforms, over whose scope, quality and pace there has been constant haggling.
And without a root-and-branch reform of the political process, to unlock people's energies and private capital to help the country achieve economic stability, surplus and security, it will, as sure as eggs are eggs, be a slippery slope all the way with Zimbabwe being the stereotype pathetic African story that begins in hope and ends in tragedy.
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This editorial fails to provide suggestions as to how to resolve the feuds among the political parties. It subtely points out what party is causing the problems but fails to impress that the party should change its attitude so as to save the nation. Why put the onus on the MDC to save the nation when ZANU PF can be treated the same and with much effectiveness. Mugabe and ZANU PF thugs have been and still are responsible for the mess in Zimbabwe. They lost an election and refused to go, thereby putting the entire nation in jeorpardy.
The online poll being conducted by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party still shows that more people are keen on the party remaining in the inclusive government. Since polling started on Sept. 24, more people have been voting for the former opposition party to remain in government.
By the fifth day of the polling on Sept. 28, the party had recorded 52.8 percent of the voters supporting the stay in government. The margin has since continued to increase with 57.2 percent of the voters registered as of noon on Thursday, against 42.8 percent of the opponents who initially accounted for 47.2 percent. The number of respondents continues to be low, however, with 166 people having cast their votes by Thursday. This could be attributed to limited access to the Internet by the majority of Zimbabweans.
The spirit of keeping the MDC in government is shared even by many within President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF, given the improvement that has taken place in people's lives since the formation of the inclusive government. Analysts have also said it would not be in the interests of any to pull out now, against the people's hope for a brighter future.
The MDC initiated the poll after expressing frustration over what it called outstanding issues to the Global Political Agreement, which gave birth to the inclusive government.
FinGaz Editor;
As far as I am concerned an MDC pull out will be good riddance of bad rubbish. If they withdraw believing that Zimbabwe will collapse as has been their wish since they started campaigning for sanction, they are mistaken. Zimbabwe has stood the test of time and will do so again now after the sellouts withdraw.
There is no step forward that Zanu-pf need to or should move until sanctions that Tsvangirai called for are removed. Sanctions are central to ALL the problems in Zimbabwe. Remove sanctions and everything will fall in line.
The reason why MDC is paying some civil servants from its sellout party, with money from the CIA, is precisely because of sanctions. Remove sanctions and the playing field becomes level and we can move forward.
As we speak, Zanu-pf has done everything it was supposed to do under the agreement but MDC is refusing to tow the line and has been allowed to do so ever since September 2008, why?
Nobody is talking about the fact that the economic devastation we have witnessed over the past five years was as a direct result of the sanctions that Tsvangirai called for. Why not blame him for lack of medicines in our hospitals, for lack of books and chalks in our schools, for the potholes on our roads, for the cholera that killed thousands of our brothers and sisters and for the fact that we were forced to abandon our own currency in favor of foreign money?
You are wrong Mr Editor to say that "the delay and repeated postponement of the inclusive government was precisely because of Zanu-pf and MDC-T". The delay and repeated postponement was solely and precisely because of Tsvangirai who refused to go along with SADC decisions and resolutions.
On more than one occasion Tsvangirai refused to implement the GPA because of the advice he was getting from the CIA. Did he not stay in self imposed exile in Botswana for months on end? Did he not travel to Europe for a debriefing instead of coming to Zimbabwe to have the government formed?
So where does Zanu-pf come in on all this. Put blame where it is due and not paint everybody with the same brush, Mr Editor.
The MDC does not have a single grievance against the revolutionary party. The only problem that MDC has is that it listens too much to foreign powers. MDC-T does not have a mind of its own. The CIA and MI6 have infiltrated their structures to the extent that all decisions have to come from Europe and America.
You know what happened four days before the re-run, the disgraced McGee advised MDC to pull out of the race without even fully understanding the implications of such a move. Tsvangirai, who could have easily won the June 27 Presidential re-run because of the difficulties people were facing, brought about by the sanctions he called for, was forced by the CIA and MI6 to withdraw and now where is he - a distant fourth in the government hierarch.
The same thing is about to happen again now and believe you me, if he does withdraw he is finished for ever and I will celebrate because I do not like him, his party and his imperialist partners. I will give myself one week of which to celebrate, celebrating the departure of a sellout from our midst.
As it stands, the CIA and MI6 have a listening device in the highest echelons of our country. No government decision is taken and implemented without it being passed on to our enemies. So, if Tsvangirai leaves today I will celebrate because I know that whatever we decide from then on is ours and ours alone.
Taka you make a bold comment when you say..."If they withdraw believing that Zimbabwe will collapse as has been their wish"........I have to imform you ,mate!Because you must still have your head up you a.se and haven't noticed, it's allready buggered, thanks to you and your like in supporting the corrupt old pig Mugga.
Mr Ndebvu, Just to let you know. I have allowed Bob to be President for a short while longer, My chosen successor, Mr Morgan tsvangarai will be the next president and this time for Mr Tsvangarai is a learning curve for him and his parliamentarians. My new day for Zimbabwe is coming a lot faster than you think.
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