Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Takunda Maodza
30 October 2009
Harare — Representatives of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security yesterday met the three parties to the Global Political Agreement and were appraised on the progress made by the inclusive Government and the challenges it is facing.
The delegation led by Mozambique's Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Oldemiro Baloi with Zambian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Professor Fashion Phiri, Swazi Foreign Minister Lutho Dhlamini and Sadc Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salamao -- met officials from Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations separately.
Zanu-PF was represented by Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, Cde Nicholas Goche and Cde Patrick Chinamasa.
Mr Tendai Biti, Mr Elton Mangoma, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro and Mr Nelson Chamisa represented the MDC-T while Professor Welshman Ncube and Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga represented the MDC.
Zanu-PF reiterated its position that the illegal sanctions imposed by the West remained the most critical outstanding issue in the GPA. The party did say it was confident the inclusive Government would not collapse.
However, Zanu-PF said MDC-T had not called for the removal of sanctions imposed "by their friends". "Basically, we expressed our views on the challenges we are facing and on the way forward.
"We put into perspective the fact that the bigger and substantive outstanding issues that have undermined the inclusive Government and economic recovery and threatened political stability were sanctions and the failure by the MDC-T to call for their removal," Cde Chinamasa told The Herald after the meeting.
Zanu-PF said it was disturbing that MDC-T even had faith "in asking that the sanctions be maintained".
"Our disappointment is that contrary to their obligations under the GPA, MDC-T has not called for the lifting of sanctions.
"They have not approached their friends to lift these sanctions. It is a big disappointment and runs against the spirit of the GPA," Cde Chinamasa said.
Zanu-PF said that external interference in the country's domestic affairs, evidenced by the broadcasting of hate language against the party leadership by pirate radio stations, continued unabated.
"We also raised concern over the sponsorship by Western governments of parallel structures within the Prime Minister's Office outside Government structures," added Cde Chinamasa.
He said MDC-T "disengagement" from the inclusive Government came as a "complete surprise".
"Announcement by the MDC-T of partial disengagement came as a complete surprise and without warning to other partners in the inclusive Government and went contrary to what was happening all along.
"I believe the way forward would be to bring any issues to the negotiating table not only now, but perpetually.
"Dialogue should continue and that is how you resolve differences not through boycotts."
Both Cde Chinamasa and Cde Goche said the "disengagement" had not been discussed in itself but within the wider context of the Troika's brief of reviewing the GPA.
"We do not think the inclusive Government will collapse. The co-operation that we have enjoyed has brought about peace, tranquillity and political stability in our country.
"I read from the hearts of the generality of our people that they want us to continue working together because that has brought stability, enhancing prospects of economic recovery and prosperity," Cde Chinamasa said.
Cde Goche said they briefed the Troika on the achievements of the inclusive Government such as the launch of the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Plan and appointments of ambassadors.
"We have even implemented certain issues that are not in the GPA," Cde Goche said.
Mr Biti told journalists that MDC-T briefed the Troika on outstanding issues.
"We made our presentations on issues of concern -- outstanding issues around the GPA. The Troika is going to consult other people and tomorrow (today) we are going to meet again.
"The fact that there are here shows that they have not ignored the crisis," he said.
Mr Biti said progress was made during the meeting, adding that he was confident the African Union and Sadc would resolve the misunderstandings.
The Troika was at the time of writing still in a meeting with delegates from Professor Arthur Mutambara's MDC.
Prior to meeting Zanu-PF and the MDC formations, the Troika paid a courtesy call on Prof Mutambara, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and had a closed-door meeting with Sadc diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe.
Today they will pay courtesy calls on President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
They will also meet diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe among other engagements.
Dr Salamao reiterated that the Troika was in the country to review the GPA.
"Our mission is to review the GPA. Obviously, we have to take into consideration what is going on," he said.
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What a load of nonsense.
1) The MDC never called for the sanctions you speak of.
2) Therefore it is not there responsibility to get them removed.
3) The sanctions on Zimbabwe are legal, justified, sound and not going anywhere.
The rest is just nonsense and cant even be bothered pointing out why. I'll just let readers read your shit and decide for themselves.
You are a joke Takunya.
i see takunya really gets you on your raw nerves, albeit with some interesting facts and you normallty respond by calling him names. have you raed the gpa and can you debate with takunya on the contents of the gpa.... could be an interseting debate.
TD, I've tried many times to debate with Takunya on an intellectual level, but have learnt that is a waste of time. He lies left right and centre, and NOTHING he says can be taken at face value without having to be checked for truth first.
Some examples:
1) the CIA invented homosexuality 2) the CIA injects aid bound for Africa with HIV. 3) the MDC murdered 130 of their own supporters, blamed it on the ZANU PF to make them look bad.
These are just some simple examples. There are many many more.
How many lies are there in the post above? I lost count.
Let us consider the ridiculous scenario where the MDC issues a press release calling for the removal of sanctions and for the media to stop criticizing ZanyPF. What then?
MDC: We have done what you asked. Now will you agree to resolve the GPA issues with us?
ZanyPF: No, the sanctions have not been removed and the media is still insulting us. You are not working hard enough!
MDC: That's because people's rights are still being violated and farms being invaded. There is no rule of law.
ZanyPF: The Land Reform will never stop and you must deny that the people are being abused.
MDC: If we agree that property rights are a nullity and turn a blind eye to murder and violence the west will just put the same restrictive measures on us. We will become like you.
ZanyPF: Exactly! That has been our strategy all along.
As correctly explained and expounded by the revolutionary party, Zanu-pf's negotiating team, there are only two outstanding issues to the GPA, that is;
1. SANCTIONS - MDC called for these sanctions on the people of Zimbabwe and it is their responsibilities to call for their removal. Tsvangirai went from one western capital to the other campaigning for sanctions and so he should, if he wants the GPA to succeed, again go around the imperialist world, to his masters, telling them to remove the ruinous, racist, criminal, barbaric and diabolic sanctions he called for. Zanu-pf is not going to move an inch if sanctions are not removed.
2. INTERFERENCE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS - How can any sane person allow imperialists, who yesterday; exploited, humiliated, subjugated, enslaved, maimed and killed us, to run our affairs and to dictate to us when we liberated ourselves from them? They are evil and barbaric and should not be allowed to dictate any terms to us. The parallel structures that MDC is running should be abolished if we are to move forward as a country.
Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans and not for the CIA and MI6. We neither need them in our midst nor their filthy lucre which they are giving to MDC officials employed by government. It is illegal for a civil servant to receive two salaries without declaring one’s service to two masters.
All the issues that MDC is raising are not GPA issues and so Zanu-pf is not obliged to implement them. For instance, the issue of the appointment of Governor Gono and AG Tomana is nowhere in the GPA. Nowhere in the GPA does it say that the appointment of Dr Gono and AG Tomana should be reviewed when the inclusive government comes into operation.
Nowhere in the GPA does it say they should be appointed with the approval of the Prime Minister when the PM’s post did not exist. The two were appointed well before the Inclusive Government. When the two were appointed there was no Prime Minister and so any talk of these being outstanding issues is just hogwash.
The Unity Government came into existence in Feb'09 while the appointment was done in Oct'08 and this was in accordance with the constitution of Zimbabwe. It is not Zanu-Pf’s problem that MDC and especially The "Boycott - Teaboy" Tsvangi refused to join government in time for the appointment. The blame should squarely rest with him and him alone as he is the one who kept on procrastinating.
Had Tsvangirai not listened to advice from McGee, the CIA and MI6 and had he agreed to follow SADC resolutions and recommendations, the appointments would have been done with his approval. Now that the appointments have been done in accordance with the supreme law of the country, there is not going to be any reversal or review whatsoever. MDC, especially Tsvangi, should just put that in their thick, rusty and rotten minds.
Nowhere in the GPA does it say that the appointment of Ambassadors shall be review when the Inclusive Government comes into existence. What is clear in the GPA is that Zanu-pf as a democratic, understanding and revolutionary party, shall allow the appointment of Ambassadors seconded by the puppet MDC formations when openings arise and NOT BEFORE.
Similarly the appointment of Provincial Governors was done during the same time that Tsvangi was boycotting the GPA and it is no one’s fault but his AND HIS ALONE – BLAME SHOULD SQUARELY REST WITH THE SELLOUT.