Collen Chibango is a former student leader.
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Power sharing deal a betrayal of Zimbabweans, writes Tanonoka Joseph Whande
12 October 2008
By Collen Chibango
Exactly 25 days after the much publicised and welcomed signing ceremony of the power sharing deal among Zimbabwe’s major political parties, nothing has changed on the socio-economic and political landscape of our country.
Instead, the general masses are still suffering, if anything they are suffering more. An illegitimate government continues to use the same ignorant, populist and failed piecemeal tactics they have fashioned into “governance”!
One would have hoped that at this stage the different parties would already be working together in solving the problems the nation faces. Instead ZANU PF continues to rule by decree and the MDC continues to act as an opposition.
None of the parties to the GNU deal have started acting like a government. Meanwhile , inflation sores, teachers strike, universities continue closed indefinitely, businesses close, corruption runs riot and one governor continues to run the country like a backyard tuck-shop.
Shocking that Mbeki is expected to come back and reign in some sanity...now that he has been removed as South African President, maybe our political parties hope that he will come and run the country while they still negotiate who takes which ministry.
I jokingly suggested to one colleague of mine recently, that we can do without some ministries, but with a functioning government. Weird, I know. Maybe, the cabinet or the council of ministers can take charge of these so called important ministries as they discuss.
Surely, international humanitarian assistance has to begin as a matter of yesterday and that’s not a contentious ministry...Or is it? ZANU PF is said to be arguing that the Ministry of Home Affairs belongs to ZAPU under the unity accord agreement of 1987.
Again, out of frustration and finding funny some of these arguments, I suggested to the same colleague of mine that, Dumiso Dabengwa is a member of ZAPU, he is “neutral” why not re-engage him in the ministry, then no one can claim him, unless if he springs up another Houdini surprise defection!
Indeed, not making much sense, I guess that’s the whole point. The whole GNU deal doesn’t make sense. Firstly people signed a deal without deciding such fundamental issues. Secondly, how could the MDC take Mugabe’s word over ministries? Thirdly, how desperate do they think the MDC is as to rush and grab small ministries?
In fact, do they hope to gain international credibility just by the presence of an MDC face saver without real control? Again the biggest prayer is that Mbeki manages to persuade his ZANU PF friends that power is sweet while it last, at some point in time one just needs to give it up or at least some of it.
Both parties, playing to the gallery, that the people cannot wait, the people are suffering, yet still failing to forge a way forward that serves the people. What hypocrisy!
Interesting how the newly elected MPs requested that the RBZ exempt them from daily cash withdrawal limits...where are the people in this whole agenda?
Collen Chibango is a former student and youth leader in Zimbabwe, now studying in the Netherlands. He writes for the Zimbabwe Watch column. www.zimbabwewatch.org
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