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Zanu PF backtracks on inclusive government
The Zanu PF caretaker government has begun to backtrack on the
inclusive government by dithering to discuss contentious issues in
line with the SADC resolutions.
Last week, a full SADC summit resolved that the negotiators of the
three major parties meet "immediately" to consider the National
Security Council Bill and the modalities and formula for the
distribution of governors.
Today, the Zanu PF negotiators said they could not talk about the
issue because they have no mandate from their leader who is attending
the AU summit in Ethiopia.
We in the MDC are convinced that there is no intention on the part of
Zanu PF to put all these issues to rest. There is no wish to
consummate an inclusive government in line with SADC resolutions.
There is no wish to alleviate the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe
through a negotiated political process. In short, there is no wish to
tackle the outstanding issues as directed by the SADC Heads of State.
Zanu PF is panicking. It has been caught flat-footed. Zanu PF never
budgeted that the MDC would agree to be part of the inclusive
government and now they are in sixes and sevens while trying
desperately to scuttle the deal.
For the record, the contentious issue of governors was supposed to be
dealt with last Tuesday in South Africa. But the Zanu PF negotiators
said their tickets did not allow them to stay a day longer and they
returned with their principal to Zimbabwe. On Wednesday, nothing
happened as they said they were preparing for the budget.
On Thursday, preliminary but inconclusive discussions took place
before the Zanu PF negotiators said discussions should break to enable
them to attend the budget, which Zanu PF again unilaterally
presented against the spirit of the inclusive government.
The Zanu PF negotiators then suggested that discussions on the matter
be deferred to today ahead of the passage of Constitutional Ammendment
number 19 on Thursday, but true to culture and tradition; they have
shifted goal posts and are now saying they have no mandate.
Zanu PF is spoiling to scuttle the inclusive government which SADC
directed should be in place by 13 February 2009. We are ready to clear
all outstanding issues so that we collectively confront the challenges
facing the people of Zimbabwe. Zanu PF is not. We are ready to tackle
cholera, unemployment and the collapse of basic services such as
education and health. Zanu PF is not.
We are ready to sort out the working conditions of civil servants so
that our children go back to school. We are ready to save lives. Zanu
PF is not. We are ready to recover this economy and to bring back
confidence in our institutions. Zanu PF is not. We are ready to give
the people hope and faith. Zanu PF is not.
We are a party of excellence. We are celebrating a decade of
commitment, courage and leadership. We are committed to the Global
Political Agreement but Zanu PF's acts of commission and omission risk
derailing the smooth passage of Constitutional Ammendment 19.
The acts of insincerity also risk dislocating the swearing-in of the
Prime Minister and his deputies and the formation of an inclusive
government thereafter.
We derive our comfort from the unbridled support and loyalty of the
working people of Zimbabwe, the poor and the downtrodden, our parents
in the rural areas, our brothers and sisters in the urban areas, the
students, and the church and minority groups.
Our wishes are anchored on the wishes and aspirations of the people of
Zimbabwe who spoke unequivocally on 29 March 2009. The people are our
compass.
MDC Information and Publicity Department
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