Unity government in turmoil after re-arrest of 18 abductees

By Tichaona Sibanda
5 May 2009

The inclusive government was on Tuesday thrown into turmoil after 18 MDC and civil society members, facing trumped-up charges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency, were re-detained.

The ruling by a Harare magistrate to re-arrest the activists was immediately condemned by the MDC who issued a statement calling for an urgent meeting of their national executive to discuss the latest crisis.

The MDC urged SADC and the African Union, as the guarantors of the Global Political Agreement, to urgently address the political stalemate in the country as it threatened national and international stability.

The party called for the immediate release of all the re-detained activists and also the release of seven MDC activists whose whereabouts remain unknown after they were abducted by state security agents in November and December last year.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara were informed by aides of the re-arrest of the detainees as they prepared to attend the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday. But a source told us there is an agreement observed by the inclusive government that issues pertaining to the GPA are never discussed in cabinet.

‘These issues are left to the principals to sort out between themselves. They were supposed to meet soon after cabinet, ideally I think the issue would be top on their agenda,’ the source added. Its reported Tsvangirai received a hand written note on a piece of paper alerting him to the unfolding drama as he walked to the cabinet meeting.

Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi confirmed that the principals met after the cabinet meeting but did not have details of what they discussed.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed the inclusive government in February, after months of wrangling and pressure from SADC and South Africa, but sharp differences still remain over issues, such as the review of the posts of central bank governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Tomana.
Western donors are likely to express great concern over the re-arrests. They have called on the inclusive government to carry out wider political and media reforms and to release all political prisoners before committing any funding to help rebuild the country.

All civil society organizations in the country expressed shock at the latest blatant disregard for human rights shown by the State on Tuesday, in re-detaining the political and human rights activists. The MDC described the action as undermining and threatening the goodwill that the inclusive government had begun to enjoy on the continent and in the broader international community.

‘Today’s ruling seriously threatens not only the life and health of the inclusive government, but its longevity and durability. Today’s ruling is a flagrant disregard to the commitments and agreements by the three principals to the GPA,’ a statement from the MDC said.

Political analysts and commentators seem to agree on one thing: The push for a lasting conclusion to outstanding issues in the GPA is firmly stuck.

Cape Town based analyst Glen Mpani said negotiations are going nowhere. He said the re-arrest of activists is a clear signal that there are elements within government and ZANU PF who are against the implementation of the GPA.

‘It’s a clear indication of who is in charge in the inclusive government. I think its victory for the (ZANU PF) rogues we have heard of in the past weeks who are against the inclusive government,’ Mpani said.

‘It has exposed the MDC to the fact that there is no power sharing in this arrangement. What they need to tell the world is - are they part and parcel of a government that represses the rights of individuals who have been fighting for democracy in Zimbabwe,’ Mpani added.