Heart of the Matter
by Tanonoka Joseph Whande

10 December, 2009

Zimbabwe does not need any more of these talks

It does not make any difference to the people of Zimbabwe who really is to blame for the lack of progress in the negotiations between ZANU-PF and the MDC.

The talks, which have taken a life of their own, are totally unnecessary and have become a hindrance to the nation’s progress.

The fact remains that nothing is being done and there is a clear lack of commitment to solve the problem.

There does not seem to be any dedication to resolve whatever it is they call outstanding issues.

It’s been more than two years now and there have always been talks and negotiations, which never yielded anything at all.

Maybe the talks between these two groups cannot produce any agreements because the talks were not supposed to be held in the first place.

The MDC is soiling itself with these meaningless talks which, if concluded, would only mean the MDC had agreed to issues they did not want to agree to.

We will hear about “give and take” but with ZANU-PF doing all the taking.

The tragedy of these talks is that they seek to legitimize something the people do not want.

The MDC was not supposed to be working with ZANU-PF. The MDC was supposed to be the ruling party on its on but it failed to dislodge Mugabe who had clearly lost an election so the MDC decided that half a loaf is better than nothing at all.

They still have less than half a loaf. But they seem happy with that.

These endless talks are meaningless and will not benefit anyone but plant simmering differences and animosities just below the surface so as to have them explode in our faces just when we start to feel comfortable.

There is an alarming lack of seriousness.

We have a crisis in Zimbabwe and these talks, considering the state of the nation, should have been given the importance they deserve.

But instead, these talks hit snag after snag as the participants find silly excuses to stall the talks.

After hiccupping and stuttering for weeks, the negotiators were forced back into negotiations. With hardly anything achieved at all, the negotiators are at it again.

ZANU-PF negotiators, Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche, “requested leave of absence in order to attend the party’s congress which runs until Saturday”.

Not to be outdone, Mutambara’s negotiators are reported to be travelling outside the country this week, right in the middle of these seemingly important talks.

Are these people serious at all? Does it mean that If Chinamasa and Goche are not there, Zimbabwe collapses?

Does it mean that if Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Mushonga are touring Europe, Zimbabwe comes to a standstill?

With such important and delicate negotiations in progress, why do Welshman and Priscilla always have to travel together when one could stay behind and hold the fort? These two are becoming ridiculous and the Finance Minister better take a closer look at these unnecessary trips.
Are there no other able negotiators? These same negotiators have been at it for years and I still have to see anything they achieved.

And only last week did Tsvangirai tell the world that excellent progress was being made at the talks.

I beg your pardon, Mr Prime Minister, what progress?

Since the MDC has also joined in the secrecy thing, we do not know what progress that is but judging from the behavioral arrogance of the negotiators, there can’t be anything meaningful coming out of these talks.

To make matters worse, there is honestly nothing to talk about since the MDC agreed to some issues without even thinking about it.

Now there are talks and talks and more talks. What are they talking about?

And can’t the MDC honestly see the delaying tactics being employed by both Mugabe and Mutambara?

Sudden there is an avalanche of meaningless “outstanding issues” to thwart or minimize the ones the MDC has been yapping over all this time.

The ridiculous demand that the MDC closes down so-called “pirate radio stations” implies that the MDC controls them.

ZANU-PF knows that is not true but still they insist putting it on the agenda.

In addition to that, most of the issues on the table are those that were agreed to a long time ago but which Mugabe refuses to implement.

And the MDC does not see that at all?

The truth is that ZANU-PF has had its time and failed. They have been in power for thirty years and have made themselves enemies of the people. They cannot relinquish power because that is the only thing keeping them out of prisons. ZANU-PF needs the presidency for their own protection and nothing else. That is why they are not even pretending to rule. The status quo protects them.

The MDC, on the other hand has honestly failed to show any meaningful alternatives to what ZANU-PF has been forcing on the people. They seem only able to react to what ZANU-PF is doing and criticizing it but do not offer clear-cut alternatives to what ZANU-PF has dished out to the nation over decades.

The heart of the matter is that the continued unnecessary talks are hindering the move forward. These talks serve no purpose because there is really nothing to discuss or negotiate. These people agreed and signed an agreement so the only thing left is to implement the agreement.

The so-called outstanding issues are not really outstanding.

The MDC must not forget that not only did they sign an agreement before the talks had been concluded but they went on to sign the document even after they discovered that Chinamasa, their colleague in negotiations, removed some paragraphs or tempered with the agreed text.

The MDC had a clear, understandable opportunity to declare the agreement null and void right there and then. But they went on to sign the document but now they are calling them “outstanding issues”, not according to the agreement.

These talks are a waste of time and money; they are just a guise to fool the people into thinking that something is being sorted out.

Yes, something needs to be sorted out. The MDC has to sort itself out. Had the MDC not made the mistake of agreeing to this unworkable arrangement, we would not be in this situation at all.

Now look what is happening. They are being humiliated by Welshman Ncube of all people.

They should abandon these silly talks and get on with the business of running the country. These are all the same principals who have been negotiating with each other for more than two years and never managed to agree to anything.

The best course of action to take would be to find new negotiators if there is anything to be discussed because the current group has failed and has no sense of urgency.

We cannot spend two years wrangling over Tomana or Gono. The MDC should just abandon this government and tell the South Africans to go to hell unless they tell Mugabe to tow the line otherwise there is nothing to negotiate.

The MDC must learn from their mistakes.

What do you think?
Send me your comments on tano@swradioafrica.com

I am an optimist and would like to give the MDC as much time as they give Mugabe but a line will have to be drawn somewhere.

We cannot keep on extending a hand of friendship to those who are not taking it.

Zimbabwe needs attention and we are wasting precious time over issues that would not have been issues were it not for the incompetency and naïveté of the MDC.

Enough is enough,

I am Tanonoka Joseph Whande and that, my fellow Zimbabweans, is the way it is today, Thursday, December 10, 2009.