The resumption of parliament, scheduled for Tuesday, is long overdue. Robert Mugabe will certainly be trying to push through his 19th amendment to the constitution – which will establish the legal basis for a government of national unity without addressing the concerns expressed by MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai on numerous occasions since September 15.
Since the signing of the agreement four months ago, Zanu (PF) has done everything to undermine that agreement and to force the MDC to pull out so that it can be blamed for wrecking the deal.
It is common knowledge that Mugabe and Zanu (PF) have never wanted the deal to work. Mugabe himself has said it is an humiliation. He was forced into it by the refusal of increasing numbers of SADC and African governments to recognise his sham run-off victory in June 2008.
Having experienced unbridled power – and riches – for 29 years, Mugabe does not want to share. Power has gone to his head. He is the man who unashamedly tells the world that he regards Zimbabwe as his own personal fiefdom. The lives of Zimbabweans are in his hands – and he has scant regard for them. His behaviour makes it difficult for anybody to cooperate with him.
We carry a story elsewhere in this issue about the proposed by-elections in nine constituencies in direct contravention of the letter of the agreement, in which a moratorium on by-elections is declared.
The continued arrest and torture of MDC supporters make it almost impossible for the MDC to join the government – lest they become complicit in the illegal detention, torture and death of innocent Zimbabweans, who also happen to be their supporters.
With Zanu's bush economics, led by inflation-fuelling Gideon Gono's endless printing of worthless bank notes, the government of Zimbabwe today has no discipline, no order, no justice. No thought goes into what they do – other than desperate self-preservation and self-enrichment. How can the MDC join such a government?
Mugabe has been refusing even to talk to Morgan Tsvangirai to discuss the problems. He has met the leader of the breakaway MDC minority, Arthur Mutambara, but refuses to talk to Tsvangirai. The deal is in trouble – it can only be resolved by talking. But for as long as Mugabe refuses to talk to Tsvangirai – how can they possibly govern together?
We salute Tsvangirai for sticking to his position that until the conditions that were set by the MDC three months ago for equitable distribution of ministerial, ambassadorial, governorships is resolved, the MDC going into any unity government will be a betrayal of the people who have given their lives to support the party.
We urge him to hold fast to this position.
Word:
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven. – Matthew 10.32