Mugabe agrees to swear in Bennett BUT only after court acquittal

By Violet Gonda
29 April 2009

The three principals in the unity government, Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, have met five times recently to discuss the controversies surrounding the implementation of the Global Political Agreement, but they have still failed to come up with a solution. Observers say this ‘dilly-dallying’ has been part of ZANU PF's strategy to wear the MDC down while not addressing the fundamental issues.

However, it has emerged that Robert Mugabe has agreed to swear into office MDC Deputy Minister of Agriculture appointee Roy Bennett, but only after the former commercial farmer has been acquitted of the charges hanging over his head. Bennett was arrested in February and spent a month in prison, charged with 'conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services'. Although he is out on bail his trial has yet to start and could drag on for a long time.

MDC insists he is innocent until proven guilty.

Mugabe argues that Bennett is facing serious ‘terrorism’ charges, and that he is only prepared to swear-in the MDC official after his case has been finalised by the courts. Most analysts agree that these are merely trumped up charges and attempts to hamper the MDC. Bennett is also not the only MDC ministerial candidate facing charges in court.

Eric Matinenga, the MDC Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs was sworn into the new government although he has a case pending in the courts for election related public violence. The Minister spent three weeks in remand prison last year after he was arrested when representing his clients – MDC supporters who were facing political persecution. Judgement in his case was set for May 4th and Minister Matinenga is currently working in the inclusive government. Also, MDC Finance Minister Tendai Biti is facing treason charges and his case has not been concluded, and Mugabe appears not to have a problem with this.

It is believed that Mugabe has agreed to give Nelson Chamisa his Communications portforlio back, but as usual there is a catch. MDC insiders said there was a trade-off, and it appears that the ‘monitoring/snooping powers’ which were under Chamisa’s Communications’ portfolio will be given to Nicholas Goche’s Transport and Infrastructural Ministry - the same ministry that had recently been given the Communications portfolio by Mugabe. Some argue that while Mugabe is giving back with one hand, he is taking away with the other.

While the crisis talks remained deadlocked in a number of areas, it has emerged that the rival parties have agreed to share the original positions of governors. It is reported the MDC-T will get 5 governors, ZANU PF 4, and MDC-M 1.

The principals are expected to meet again on Monday to thrash out the unresolved issues that include the appointment of permanent secretaries and ambassadors. Information is not readily available but according to insiders, the parties have so far agreed that 13 current permanent secretaries will remain, while the inclusive government has to review 25. There are still disagreements over how the other 25 permanent secretary positions will be distributed by the political parties. The issue of the ambassadors, farm invasions and media freedoms are still not resolved.

Mugabe had not budged on any of the issues on Monday, but it is understood he made some of these ‘very slight’ concessions after the MDC threatened to boycott Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, and threatened to hold a press conference to expose his insincerity concerning the Global Political Agreement.

Observers say it is clear that the delaying tactics by Mugabe have a motive, and the motive is to stall the reforms spearheaded by the MDC until ZANU PF has access to its assets, frozen under the targeted sanctions. This is why the regime has been pressuring the MDC to push for the removal of targeted sanctions. An MDC MP said: “Like the fresh farm seizures, ZANU PF is aware that this revolution is not stopping and they want their money. They want to try and secure their freedom and get their money that has been blocked as a result of the sanctions. Mugabe knows that if he settles the outstanding issues without securing this, he will lose politically.”