The Interim President and National Steering Committee of Mavambo.Kusile.Dawn would like to register dismay at the developments within the Inclusive Government of Zimbabwe.
It is clear that ZANU (PF) and President Robert Mugabe have never been serious about engaging the MDC-T and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, specifically, and about the concept of power-sharing in general.
Whereas ZANU (PF) has acted in bad faith throughout the life of the Inclusive Government, the MDC-T itself has also acted in a manner that does not inspire confidence in their ability to rise above the problems bedeviling Zimbabwe.
Since the inauguration of the Inclusive Government, the Prime Minister has insisted at every opportunity that everything is well, that “Mugabe is genuine”, “Mugabe is not the problem, but other people around him”, and “Mugabe is committed to power-sharing” despite warnings and clear evidence to the contrary.
This went on even as the Prime Minister’s MPs, Deputy Minister of Agriculture-designate and MDC-T supporters were persecuted and harassed all over the country. Yet, now the Prime Minister says “in this period, we have seen a complete lack of paradigm shift on the part of ZANU PF.”
Everyone could see this, even as the Prime Minister told the world “Mugabe is indispensable and irreplaceable.”
We note with concern that the issues over which the MDC are disengaging from ZANU PF are issues of “jobs for the boys and girls” and not policies that can deliver real change for Zimbabweans.
The people want stable and permanent jobs, economic development, repair of dilapidated infrastructure, food, functioning health and education systems and social support networks. The people want their dignity and respect back.
In this regard, we note that since they entered the Inclusive Government, the MDC-T have not put forward policy initiatives aimed at pulling the country out of crisis. The modest improvements that have occurred in people’s lives over the past year are the result of the default dollarisation which commenced in early 2008 and was formalized by ZANU (PF) before the Inclusive Government.
The MDC-T says it is unhappy that it still has no Ambassadors posted, no Provincial Governors and Resident Ministers appointed and that Roy Bennett has still not been sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
In principle, MKD stands opposed to a bloated government, especially the Executive. We would have expected that, instead of fighting for posts that will expand government and burden the struggling Zimbabwean taxpayer, Prime Minister Tsvangirai would be fighting President Mugabe over policy matters that can improve the economic fortunes of the country and the well-being of citizens.
One such policy we are still waiting for from the PM and his party is the reduction in the avaricious consumption of limited resources by the bloated executive, freeing up what little resources we have for the improvement of the quality of life of all Zimbabweans.
Indeed, while it is patently obvious that Mugabe has no intention of sharing real power with Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister and his party are expected to at least show that they have what it takes to change the fortunes of Zimbabweans. The people expect them to propose effective development policies, not just fight for public sector job opportunities.
The people expect MDC-T to champion causes such as National Reconciliation and Healing, in order that we never get a repeat of the violence and brutalities that have characterised recent elections.
The people expect the MDC-T to demonstrate better governance competency than ZANU (PF), instead of helping implement destructive ZANU (PF) policies, as they have been doing since they entered the Inclusive Government.
The people want the MDC-Ti to demonstrate they can govern the country, facilitating prosperity through policies that are different from what we have come to expect from Mugabe and ZANU PF. This is not happening.
Political will to bring social stability and economic well-being and create jobs seems to be lacking in both MDC-T and ZANU (PF). The focus is all about power, command and control, creating room at the feeding trough of government for themselves and a small number of their supporters and officials, while at the same time pursuing destructive policies that belong to the dinosaur age of the ZANU (PF) regime of the last decade.
On careful examination, it emerges that the reasons for the MDC-T disengagement from ZANU (PF) have nothing to do with delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe. The fight is about the MDC-T being allowed a bigger share of public sector jobs, motor cars, travel allowances and good living.
We urge both President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai to show genuine concern for the suffering people of Zimbabwe, to apply themselves diligently to resolving their power disputes. We further urge President Mugabe, especially, to show that he is committed to genuine partnership and power-sharing with the MDC-T, a party that defeated him in the March 2008 elections.
This will enable the Inclusive Government to formulate and implement the policies required to create jobs, stimulate economic growth that benefits all our people and bring Zimbabwe back into the 21st Century where it belongs.
Also of concern to us is that even this action of “disengagement from ZANU (PF)” by the Prime Minister and the MDC-T is not clear in its meaning. The MDC-T can not have their cake and eat it.
They say they have “disengaged from ZANU PF” and from Cabinet and yet they are still in the Inclusive Government, they are still reporting for work and they are still executing their duties as cabinet ministers? So what exactly is the meaning of their action as announced last Friday, 16 October 2009? Can the Prime Minister clearly spell out to a concerned and confused nation the practical meaning and effect of this action because the people can not see its significance?
At the same time, we are aware, as is the entire nation, that there are three parties to this agreement and this Inclusive Government. How is the Prime Minister relating to the third party in government, the MDC-M? Is he meeting with them in the Cabinet Room in the absence of ZANU PF? Is he engaging them at all or ignoring them?
The people of Zimbabwe are genuinely concerned and confused over this unclear position from the MDC-T. They have the right to an explanation from their Prime Minister.
It is time to stop playing with the people of Zimbabwe over petty positions and power. It is time to deliver real change to the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe. If the amount of attention that is being given to who gets what post in the Inclusive Government was directed towards delivering jobs, economic recovery, social harmony and stability, this country would have been much further down the road to prosperity than it is now.
It is time to bring real change to the people.
It is time to Get Zimbabwe Working Again.
Dr Simba Makoni
