Published by the government of Zimbabwe
7 November 2009
editorial
Harare — AS expected, the Sadc Troika meeting in Maputo, Mozambique -- that had been convened to review the socio-political situation in the DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe -- urged MDC-T leaders to honour their obligations under the Global Political Agreement, and in the inclusive Government.
The Troika -- comprising Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia -- urged the parties to the GPA to be bound by, and fulfil the letter and spirit of the GPA and the communiqué of January 27, 2009.
It is important to note that the issues outlined in the January communiqué, namely the formation of the inclusive Government and appointments of provincial governors, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor and Attorney-General have since been discussed and resolved with the Zanu-PF side saying the appointments were irreversible and constitutional.
Addressing these issues does not mean giving in to MDC-T demands that Dr Gideon Gono and Mr Johannes Tomana be fired and replaced by MDC-T nominees, no. It is not a secret that the campaign against the RBZ governor is not about dereliction of duty on his part, but because he kept the nation afloat at a time those who wish to persecute him today were busy trying to bring about its collapse for political expediency.
AG Tomana stands accused of persecuting and not prosecuting MDC-T officials, among them Roy Bennett, for whom the MDC-T announced its disengagement.
It is important that the nation sifts through what is and what is not important from what these three main political parties are peddling as outstanding issues, and call the leaders to account.
It is our considered opinion that the real outstanding issues in need of address obtain in the GPA and include, among other things, the ruinous economic sanctions, external interference and pirate radio broadcasts, all of which the MDC-T leadership still refuse to honour to this day.
We urge the three main political parties to know why the inclusive Government was consummated.
They are in Government to deal with the political and socio-economic problems confronting the country with a view to improving livelihoods destroyed by a decade of ruinous economic sanctions. The Government is not about doling out posts between the parties, let alone recruiting and appointing senior civil servants.
Right now the summer cropping season is upon us with many farmers in limbo as to where and how they will get inputs. Schools and hospitals are in need of critical staff and equipment; and industry and commerce are still to recover from the ruin of the past decade.
One would have thought that leaders worth their salt would be seized with these issues rather than settling personal scores.
Both the Zanu-PF and the MDC leadership risk losing relevance in the eyes of the people by continuing pandering to the MDC-T puerile agenda.
The Troika decision was a serious indictment on MDC-T leaders who had to go all the way to Maputo to hear what their supporters have been telling them here: Get on with the business of the inclusive Government.
We urge all the parties in Government to go back to basics, know why this Government was formed and be seized with addressing its major objectives.
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