HARARE - Serious issues have remained unresolved two months after the formation of the government of national unity. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had said The Prime Minister had said the issues would be resolved at the next government leadership meeting [of the President, the Vice-Presidents, the Prime Minister aThe leadership meetings usually take place on Mondays, but last week
saw the PM attending the funeral of his grandson, this week was Easter
Monday, and now the meeting is scheduled for Monday April 20. In the
meantime, these unresolved issues are an obstacle to foreign aid and
investment.
In his address to the Victoria Falls Retreat on April 3, the Prime
Minister said outstanding issues included, but were not limited to, the
following:
the swearing-in of provincial governors
the appointment of the Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney-General
the appointment of permanent secretaries and ambassadors
the ongoing land disputes and disruption of agricultural activities
[farm invasions].
Other important issues are:
MDC cadres and human rights activists facing trial
reform of legislation has not yet started
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Roy Bennett still not sworn in
the settling of the affair of the Ministry of Information
Communication Technology.
The Prime Minister had said the issues would be resolved at the next
government leadership meeting [of the President, the Vice-Presidents,
the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers]. The leadership
meetings usually take place on Mondays, but last week saw the PM
attending the funeral of his grandson, this week was Easter Monday, and
now the meeting is scheduled for Monday the 20th April. In the
meantime these unresolved issues are an obstacle to foreign aid and
investment.
During the retreat Ministries were grouped into five "clusters" for the
purpose of formulating their action plans – Economic, Social, Rights
and Interests, Security and Infrastructure.
Details of the visions and specific targets formulated during the
retreat have not yet been officially released. The Minister of State
in the Prime Minister's Office said it should be ready this week.
As well as the 100-day plan there were also some 30-day time-frames set.
Minister Chinamasa has said that the Rights cluster has made a
commitment to address the plight of prisoners – i.e. that the basic
needs of all prisoners in terms of food, clothing, bedding and health
would be met by the 6th May.
He also promised a start to a review of media policy to encourage "a multiplicity of media houses".
Once the time-frames emerge from each Ministry it will facilitate
monitoring the fulfilment of the inclusive government's promises. –
VERITAS