/ 17 May 2013

MDC’s appeal for reform in Zim comes too late

Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) may have no one but itself to blame for the situation it finds itself in.

As the sun sets on the unity government ushered in by the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the party is hard at work trying to hold Zanu-PF to account for reforms not implemented by the government.

By revisiting the reforms agreed to in the GPA and tracing the work delivered by the government, it lends credence to the view that, once in power, the MDC relaxed and forgot to keep the heat on Zanu-PF – and it may now be too late.

On August 4 2010, a meeting between President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy, Arthur Mutambara, came up with a road map for addressing problem areas, which has largely not been followed through, mainly as a result of Zanu-PF's intransigence and the MDC's consistent failure to hold it to account.

The principals did not agree on issues relating to the appointment of central bank governor Gideon Gono, attorney general Johannes Tomana and the appointment and swearing in of the MDC's Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister.

The two MDC formations have since surrendered on the appointments, with Tsvangirai appointing the late Seiso Moyo to replace Bennett. Gono's and Tomana's cases appear to have disapperaed from the MDC's radar.

The parties also agreed on the formula for the appointment of provincial governors – the principals resolved that the matter would be addressed simultaneously with the strategy for the removal of sanctions. Under the formula, Tsvangirai was to appoint five provincial governors, Mugabe four and Mutambara one. Again, the MDC let this slide and Mugabe ended up with a huge advantage, regaining control of the provinces.

More than three-quarters of the agreed outstanding issues were not implemented. It is also highly unlikely that putting the heat on Zanu-PF at the eleventh hour before elections will yield results. Zanu-PF realises that, with the status quo, it is in a stronger position than before.

But what were the issues to be addressed by the road map?

Media reforms
The principals resolved in August 2010 that, within a month, the Broad­casting Authority of Zimbabwe board would be regularised, and a new Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation board and the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust would be set up.

Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu and the parliamentary standing rules and orders committee were tasked to execute the mandates but, three years down the line, no changes have taken place. Shamu is now refusing to reconstitute the boards and the trust is nonexistent.

Security institutions
Security ministers Kembo Mohadi, Theresa Makone, Emmerson Mnan­gagwa and Sydney Sekeremayi, the National Security Council, the principals and the entire leadership of the political parties were mandated to ensure that Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, Tomana and other state security organs complied with articles 11 and 13 of the GPA on a continual basis.

The articles advocate the respect and upholding of the Constitution and the adherence to the principles of the rule of law. The articles emphasise that state institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial.

Zimbabwe's police, army and the Central Intelligence Organisation remain partisan, with their chiefs openly campaigning for Mugabe. The MDC parties have been exerting pressure on Mugabe only recently over these reforms, with no success.

Sanctions
The principals agreed on an immediate campaign to secure the removal of sanctions. It was to be executed by a committee made up of Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa (Zanu-PF), Energy Minister Elton Mangoma (MDC-Tsvangirai) and International Co-operation Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (of the smaller MDC).

Party leaders, executive party organs and lower levels of the three political parties were also tasked to lobby for the removal of the embargoes.

The campaign seems to have worked, especially since the March 16 draft Constitution referendum that saw the European Union and the United States easing the sanctions on Zimbabwe.

External radio stations
It was resolved that, within one month, the joint monitoring and implementation committee (Jomic) and another committee should call on foreign governments hosting and funding pirate radio stations to stop "interference in the internal affairs of the country". No such call has been made three years down the line. The three coalition partners are all using these stations to get their messages to remote areas not serviced by the national broadcaster.

Hate speech
The principals agreed that the late vice-president John Nkomo, on behalf of government leadership, Shamu, the media council and Jomic, should direct the media to support all agreed government programmes and put a stop to attacks on ministers implementing the projects.

In the past three years, an escalating hate campaign has been waged against the MDC parties, especially against Tsvangirai, in the state-run media. Tsvangirai and the MDC parties have complained without success to Mugabe.

Ministerial allocations
The principals agreed that, for the maintenance of cohesion and progress, the status quo must be maintained but continually monitored, hence the continued co-ministering of the ministry of home affairs.

Land audit
Minister of Lands Herbert Murerwa, a Cabinet committee on resettlement and development and the principals were mandated to appoint an inclusive and balanced land audit commission by the beginning of September 2010. That has not happened, with Murerwa last week saying government had abandoned the project due to lack of funds.

Land tenure
Murerwa and a Cabinet committee were tasked with coming up within two months with land tenure systems that favoured a leasehold system and guaranteed security of tenure and collateral value of land, without reversing the land reform programme.

They were also asked to be creative and establish tenure systems that would take into account the different circumstances of communal land. That agreement was never executed.

Electoral vacancies
Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara agreed that, for the duration of the inclusive government, the three parties would not contest against each other.

Cabinet and council of ministers
The government leadership endorsed the Cabinet and council of ministers' rules, guidelines and procedures. This was implemented immediately.

Ministerial mandates
It was agreed that the chief secretary to the president and cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, and the secretary in the prime minister's office, Ian Makone, would meet and submit a report on the issue to the principals. Some duties of Parliament were later reassigned, with the MDC-T crying foul after Mugabe allocated communications legislation to Transport Minister Nicholas Goche at the expense of Information Technology Communication Minis­ter Nelson Chamisa.

Principals transport
The office of the president and Cabinet were tasked with coming up with an administrative arrangements for Tsvangirai's fleet. The premier was provided with a "mini-motorcade" immediately.

Tsvangirai, Mutambara aides
Sekeremayi was asked to process the vetting, training and engagement of security personnel for Tsvangirai and Mutambara quickly. The task was executed.

Parallel government
The principals agreed that Jomic should continually monitor and investigate allegations that Tsvan­girai was running a parallel government funded by donors. No report on the issue was ever made public.

External interference
The coalition partners agreed to condemn jointly any external interference when it occurred.

National Economic Council
Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara agreed to expedite the establishment of the National Economic Council within a month. The council remains a pipe dream.

Constitutional commissions
The government formalised the appointment of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

National heroes
The principals agreed to expedite the adoption of nonpartisan and inclusive principles and a framework for the designation of national heroes within two months.

The agreement was never followed through, with Zanu-PF's politburo continuing to accord hero status on anyone it deems fit.

George Charamba status
The chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Mariyawanda Nzuwah, and Sibanda were tasked to ensure that the secretary for the media, information and publicity ministry, and Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba, would remain apolitical. Charamba continues to dabble in partisan politics.

Constitutional amendment
Chinamasa ensured that Constitu­tional Amendment 19, relating to the GPA, was gazetted and assigned as directed by the principals.

Right of association and assembly
Chihuri, Mohadi and Makone were tasked to reaffirm immediately the right of political parties to organise freely. The MDC still complains of being barred by the police from holding rallies.

Role, funding of NGOs
The principals resolved that government, through the Cabinet aid co-ordination committee, should determine priority areas for donor assistance. No timeline was put in place. The committee and Cabinet were also charged with ensuring that government improved aid co-ordination and achieved budget support.

Amendments to Electoral Act
Chinamasa, the Cabinet and Parliament were mandated by the principals to ensure that the Electoral Act was amended to allow free and fair polls. The Act was altered.

Constantine Chimakure is the editor of Zimbabwean daily Newsday.