October 8, 2009

Another government of national unity looms

Both Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai told their supporters to prepare for elections within the next two years.
I do not know what elections Mugabe wants when he refuses to abide by the results they bring.
As for Tsvangirai, I was intrigued by his upbeat anticipation.
I could not help but wonder what these two know that we all don’t.
Something is in the air.
Are these two bulls really cherishing a fight or they know how to let each other off the hook like they did before?
It’s called skepticism and I am full of it.
My compatriots, forgive me for not sharing the same optimism as that displayed by Tsvangirai this week when he urged the long suffering Zimbabweans to prepare for polls in two years from now.
Apart from the frightening prospect of spending another two years with these bumbling politicians, the mere mention of elections in Zimbabwe makes me want to abandon earth and go somewhere else where there are no people and elections.
From our experiences since our so-called independence, I believe you know why I feel this way.
After years of fighting for liberation and losing thousands of our compatriots, it is only Mugabe, his family and close associates who are free in Zimbabwe today.
Yes, I know, it is called cynicism and I am full of that too.
Many things bother me about Tsvangirai’s statement, which he made in honest mimicry of Robert Mugabe who said as much to his group of disorganized women and violent youths at their so-called national conferences a few weeks ago.
Mugabe urged his supporters to prepare for “fresh national elections which could spontaneously be called within the next two years”.
At least, he did not use the words “free and fair elections”.
This is the man who killed many during the last elections, lost the election and refused to step down.
Now he is announcing another round and to me it means he is serving notice that he is getting ready to kill more.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai also urged his supporters to prepare for the same elections.
He won the last elections but was graceful enough to decline the presidency, settling for a government of national unity in which he plays second fiddle to the loser.
Will he fight for his win this time around?
The first thing that struck me was Tsvangirai’s audacity to promise us “free and fair elections”, the last of which resulted in him being relegated to a beggar within a government he is supposed to be leading and heading.
I find it amusing that after Mugabe denied him the presidency last year, Tsvangirai now assures the nation not only of elections but of free and fair elections.
Where does he get that guarantee from since Mugabe never held any free and fair elections?
That is very optimistic for Tsvangirai even though Mugabe still denies Tsvangirai permission to use or live in the official Prime Minister’s residence.
We are well aware that the Government of National Unity did not specify a time limit as to when exactly the GNU should be wound down although the “within twenty four months” time frame was muted.
It is, in actual fact, up to these fellows to stretch it out for as long as they want.
What is for sure is that none of these fellows are rushing for early elections.
“The inclusive government is meant to last for 18 months to 24 months,” Mugabe told a Zanu-PF youth conference last week.
But Mutambara is on record as saying the GNU should be allowed to live for five years.
“All this is completely false,” Mutambara said on July 10, ”If you look at the Global Political Agreement, there is nowhere where it says the government is for 18 months or two years. It is silent on the duration of the unity government.”
Mutambara wants this strange government to last for five years.
I find it interesting that the MDC, which had earlier wanted the elections to be held in less than two years from the day the GNU was signed, now appears comfortable with the two-year time limit.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai both talked about elections in two years’ time but they are saying this after their government has already been in existence for over a year, making it three years after the GNU has been in existence.
All three so-called principals love where they are and appear contented to stay put. They are in no hurry; they are in this together, especially if one considers that the only thing elections will alter is that, instead of sharing the cake three ways, the cake might end up on one person’s table, leaving the other two hungry for those exotic trips to the UN General Assembly and New York.
At the second MDC congress held in Harare on March 18, 2006, Tsvangirai promised to hand over power “once Zimbabwe was restored to full democracy”.
He is in government now but that has still not been realized.
“It has never been my intention to hold on to power after the people have liberated themselves from this dictatorship,” Tsvangirai said then. “My contract with the people does not extend beyond a certain time-frame.
“A new Zimbabwe, a new beginning has no room for life presidents. My wish is to execute our mandate in an honest and vigorous manner; preside over a transition to full democracy and pass on the baton to another Zimbabwean.”
It’s all very well for him to say this but if these targets set by himself for himself extend into 20 years, what happens then?
African constitutions always have loopholes.
The MDC now appears to be following in the footsteps of Robert Mugabe in trying to defeat a constitution agreed upon by party supporters.
The MDC is now also finding convenient loopholes to allow for the abuse of their own constitution.
Last month, Nelson Chamisa, MDC spokesperson, said the MDC constitution speaks on the issue of five-year terms “without necessarily speaking to limiting people in terms of their offices”. Ah…and to whose convenience is this deliberate omission?
Sounds so familiar from our experiences with ZANU-PF. These are the first stages of an attempt to marry a national party to an individual. The elevation of a leader to be above the party constitution starts right here because the constitution is “silent”.
Term limit in government was one of the most contentious issues the MDC successfully campaigned against during the 2000 referendum.
“We insist that the terms of office in the party are supposed to be five years then you go back to the elections,” said Chamisa. “But in terms of government, we have said those who should serve government should serve a maximum of two terms. Meaning to say that if someone gets into office as a president, like President Tsvangirai, he will serve a maximum of two five year-terms each to have the 10 years as president. It’s the same thing for all the cadres. That is the position that is clear in the Constitution of the MDC.”
We get the point. The bottom line is the same…Tsvangirai worked hard to get where he is and to get us where we are so he deserves to be treated differently and be given exemption from following party rules and the constitution.

So I sit here worrying why Tsvangirai and Mugabe sound not so different and rather upbeat about the next elections. What is going to happen should we end up with the same situation as last year? Another Government of National unity?

The heart of the matter is that before campaigns start, there has to be a deliberate effort to set the guidelines and to involve every body possible, in and outside Zimbabwe to guarantee that people are not being taken for a ride once again, whoever wins.

We cannot be expected to be coaxed into believing or trusting Robert Mugabe.
Where does Tsvangirai get his assurances from? Before guaranteeing free and fair elections, will the MDC guarantee to protect the people’s lives?
What do you think?

Send me your comment on tano@swradioafrica.com

Will these guys, who are sharing so many goodies amongst themselves, dump each other to please crowds at their rallies or they will hammer out yet another deal to stay at the high table together at the expense of democracy or, to be more accurate, the voters?

I fear we are being prepared for a sequel to the first government of national unity and that spells disaster.

The government of national unity will continue to split the nation as it has done since its inception.
There is no guarantee that the elections will be free and fair.
There is no guarantee that these people will abide by the outcome of the vote.
And, most importantly, there is no guarantee that our citizens will be safe.
Free and fair elections are born out of a free and fair campaign and a level playing ground.
Does Tsvangirai have that or these things no longer matter?

I am Tanonoka Joseph Whande and that, my compatriots, is the way it is today, Thursday October 8, 2009.