SW Radio Africa (London)
Tichaona Sibanda
11 November 2009
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and ministers from his party attended a cabinet meeting on Wednesday following their 're-engagement' with ZANU PF.
The MDC leader last week Thursday ended a three week boycott of the shaky inclusive government after disengaging from Robert Mugabe's 'dishonest and unreliable' ZANU PF party in the unity cabinet, set up in February. The boycott sparked the biggest crisis since the new government was formed.
Tsvangirai had vowed he would boycott the power-sharing government until all sticking points had been resolved and a political deal reached. But a regional SADC summit on Zimbabwe in Maputo last week set a deadline for the three parties in the government to meet within 15-30 days to discuss how to resolve the conflict. Because of this, Tsvangirai decided he would re-engage with ZANU PF.
James Maridadi, Tsvangirai's spokesman, told SW Radio Africa that Wednesday's meeting would have covered government business only and that it would not cover other issues, especially those to do with the Global Political Agreement.
Normally Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara meet every Monday to discuss issues contained in the GPA. But this week's meeting was postponed because Mugabe was away in Egypt on official business. The three political leaders are now due to meet next week Monday. Party negotiators are expected to meet to work on the agenda and modalities of the talks.
The guarantors of the political agreement - SADC- say they are still hopeful the deadlock between Mugabe and Tsvangirai can be resolved.
South African President Jacob Zuma, whose country facilitated the unity agreement, is to visit Harare in two weeks' time to review progress.
Political analyst Gabriel Shumba told us the 15 day timeline was unrealistic to expect a concrete resolution on all outstanding issues.
'It's just an impossible timeline. Remember we are looking at issues that have dragged over a period of time. My guess is Mugabe will try and drag his feet again because of an upcoming ZANU PF congress where I'm sure his position would be shaky if he makes major concessions to the MDC,' Shumba said.
Shumba, who is also a lawyer by profession, said it takes times to reform institutions that have been pro-Mugabe. He said at institutions like the police and the Reserve Bank there was a need also to change the 'main actors', which has been one of the MDC's demands.
It was reported that Finance Minister Tendai Biti briefed Parliament on Tuesday on the RBZ Amendment Bill that seeks to limit the functions of the central bank and bring the powers of Governor Gideon Gono under the control of a board.
Gono's first five-year tenure at the helm of the bank was directly blamed for the supersonic hyperinflation of unprecedented proportions in the country.
On Tuesday, Biti told legislators that the proposed legislation was a 'firefighting Bill', as members of the public would be asked what the central bank should be like during the forthcoming constitution-making process.
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Kaparah, I see Biti’s role in the GNU as a stabilizing force and it has provided confidence from foreign investors that Zimbabwe badly needs. I believe Biti and Tsvangirai are smart enough to know what is best for Zimbabwe versus what is good for “Rhodesians” only. Things in Zimbabwe have improved because of the withdraw of the Zim dollar and the use of foreign currency. Without foreign confidence and control of inflation, no investor would be interested in Zimbabwe.
I agree with you, Mr. Phiri, and hope that Mr. Tsangirai will cherish the opportunity to work with reasonable and principled people like Mr. Biti as you suggested. In the meantime, we will continue to watch Mr. Tsangirai to ensure he does not fall off the wagon again. Good luck, my brother.
Here comes the Rhodies' stooge that would sell his people down the river for a mess of porridge, or should I say 30 pieces of silver. Let us give him a round of applause.