Unity government talks on the verge of collapse

Lance Guma
28 April 2009

The 5th meeting between Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara, aimed at resolving outstanding issues in the coalition government, teetered on the edge of collapse Tuesday. Mugabe continues to refuse to back down on his unilateral amendments and violations to the unity deal, and all his coalition partners have been able to do is declare them ‘null and void’. Although the South African Business Day newspaper reported that talks held on Monday remained deadlocked ‘after long hours of intense discussions’ Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi insisted Mondays’ meeting was brief and only sought to set the agenda for the next meeting.

On Tuesday that meeting took place around 3pm, soon after the normal Tuesday cabinet meeting. Maridadi was reluctant to say if there was any progress on the issues that have paralyzed the government so far. Under dispute is how Mugabe unilaterally stripped away the communications sector from a ministry controlled by the MDC, has dragged his feet on swearing in Deputy Agriculture Minister designate Roy Bennett, encouraged fresh farms invasions and kept mum on the continued detention of political prisoners. The appointment of governors, ambassadors and permanent secretaries is another issue that the parties have also failed to agree on.

Over the weekend Tsvangirai told an MDC rally in Chinhoyi that there was ‘no going back on the unity government’ and that he was working well with Mugabe. ‘We respect each other, although we may disagree. There's nothing Mugabe does without me approving and there is nothing I do without him approving,’ he added. His supporters expressed worries he might have spoken too soon and dug himself into a hole over the remarks. Evidence so far suggests Mugabe has no intention of backing down, despite theories that its hardliners in ZANU PF who are trying to torpedo the deal. ‘He remains firmly in charge and focused on undermining Tsvangirai by giving him responsibility without authority,’ one commentator told us.

The MDC meanwhile has also come under criticism for being too optimistic in the face of glaring evidence that the stalemate will persist. A few months ago it was former South African President Thabo Mbeki being accused of practicing ‘quite diplomacy’ in his dealings with Mugabe, now the MDC face the same accusation, of being too soft and accommodating of the ZANU PF leader.

Both ZANU PF and the MDC had agreed all outstanding issues should be solved by the end of April but Tuesday’s meeting represented the last day to do this as most government officials were taking evening flights to the International Trade Fair in Bulawayo. Tsvangirai was due to catch a morning flight on Wednesday while Mutambara, Nelson Chamisa, Gorden Moyo and others traveled Tuesday evening. Mugabe is also traveling but his itinerary was not yet known.

The Bulawayo Trade Fair has gathered very little support this year from companies both local and international. Observers have expressed concern that talks on which the future of the entire nation depends are not regarded as important as a Trade Fair.