ZANU PF says ‘No more GPA concessions’ until sanctions lifted

By Violet Gonda
28 January 2010

The inter-party negotiations were dealt another serious blow on Wednesday when ZANU PF’s supreme decision making body, the Politburo, said there will be no more Global Political Agreement concessions until the sanctions have been lifted.

Ephraim Masawi, ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Information and Publicity, is quoted in the Herald saying remarks by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband that, ‘London would remove sanctions at MDC’s request exposed MDC-T’s treacherous role in the initiation and drafting of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabweans.’ The paper went on to say the party was a, ‘tool of Western imperialism, and that the hypocrisy of the MDC-T’s denial of its role in the evil saga of the imposition of illegal sanctions now stands exposed for all to see.’

Commentator Dr. Alex Magaisa said the statements made by the British official have added fuel to already burning embers in the context of Zimbabwe’s fragile political settlement.

He told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that Miliband’s statements were ‘unfortunate,’ and gave an indication that the MDC had the power to influence the lifting of sanctions, thereby giving ZANU PF a wonderful gift, which it is exploiting to the detriment of the GPA.

Magaisa said it is not clear whether or not the MDC actually have such power, despite numerous denials by the party. He said although the MDC-T has been focusing on removing the sanctions against companies, perhaps now is the time for them to restratergise and come up with a firm position on the issue.

The commentator said unfortunately western countries sometimes do not have a very good understanding of the situation in Africa and so when they make statements they perhaps don’t realise the impact they have on the political environment. He added: “It’s mindboggling to appreciate why such a senior figure would make this statement in the context of negotiations between ZANU PF and the MDC. It calls for a better understanding of the situation in Zimbabwe.”

“The message for those who seek to assist is that perhaps they could control the tongue a little bit better,” Magaisa said.

Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who is attending the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland, echoed the same sentiments saying the West should, ‘speak less and listen more.’
“It’s an example of how Western leaders can be very un-strategic. We know they mean well, we know they support the people of Zimbabwe but when they make such statements, they are completely undermining our bargaining power as the formal opposition,” Mutambara said.

The latest developments come amid calls for the South African President Jacob Zuma to help break the political impasse in Zimbabwe. Finance Minister Tendai Biti told journalists in Washington DC on Tuesday that the shaky coalition could collapse if fundamental outstanding issues are not addressed. Biti said the parties had failed to break the deadlock and that it is now time for Zuma to show leadership and intervene.