The SADC troika summit held in Maputo recently might have left President Robert Mugabe bloodied and cornered, but the two MDC formations are not doing their cause any good by bickering among themselves instead of focusing on a weakened foe.
A 15-day deadline set by the regional body for the commencement of negotiations to finalise the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) passed with the only notable development being the re-emergence of mudslinging between the MDC factions. A blistering statement released by the MDC-T last Friday accusing Arthur Mutambara’s faction of conniving with Zanu (PF) to delay the SADC-ordered negotiations was the latest manifestation of the deteriorating relations between the two.
The statement blasted MDC-M, along with Zanu (PF) for “intransigence, mischief and insincerity,” in their approach to the negotiations. Tsvangirai’s party had been irked that Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairambwi, who represent MDC-M in GPA negotiations, travelled to Spain on government business instead of joining their colleagues to kick-start the SADC brokered negotiations.
Tsvangirais criticism
The latest attack comes hard on the heels of unprecedented public criticism of Mutambara by Tsvangirai at a rally in Chitungwiza a fortnight ago. Tsvangirai told his supporters that events in Maputo had clearly shown that Mutambara “was not one of us”. At the Maputo SADC summit, the Deputy Prime Minister had angered MDC-T by endorsing Mugabe’s allegations that Tsvangirai was running a parallel government from his offices. These developments have come as a pleasant surprise to Zanu (PF), which found itself in the dock at the Maputo summit and is under immense pressure to make significant concessions on the negotiating table.
Mugabe had in the past fiercely insisted that his party had fulfilled all its GPA obligations. Now he faces the prospect of an embarrassing climb-down after the SADC summit trashed his claims that the appointment of Reserve bank Governor Gedion Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana was not subject to renegotiation. The long delayed media reforms, the appointment of provincial governors and the swearing in of Roy Bennett are some of the outstanding matters on the GPA up for discussion. Yet the two MDC formations can only extract maximum concessions from Zanu (PF) by approaching the talks with a coherent agenda.
Any discord would not only complicate South African President Jacob Zuma’s task as the new mediator, but it might also provide Mugabe with an escape route on some of the disputed matters. Mutambara and Tsvangirai appeared to be enjoying a healthy working relationship prior to the Maputo summit with former pointing out in a recent interview that he was “working very well with the Prime Minister.” Tsvangirai on the other hand had also insisted that “we still share the same objectives” in an interview with an online newspaper a few months ago.
That is not to say though that there were no differences.
MDC leaders differences
The two have differed sharply on the timescale for the next election, with Mutambara favouring a longer term for the inclusive government ostensibly to allow the democratic reforms to take root. “The question is not when is the next election – that is the wrong question – the question is what kind of election are we going to have next time around,” says Mutambara.
Tsvangirai’s party on the other hand, ever confident of outright victory, would prefer an election as soon as the constitutional exercise is completed. Mugabe is also angling for an early election as he ratchets up violence and intimidation in the rural areas where he used to enjoy unquestionable support. An early election would also allow Mugabe to capitalize on the trauma caused by his violent campaign last year.
The two MDC formations also differed on the recent disengagement from government, which precipitated the SADC summit in the first place. Mutambara argued that any threats to pull out would mean playing into the hands of Zanu (PF) hardliners who are working for the collapse of the inclusive government.
Mutambara swallows sanction lie
The controversial issue of sanctions is another point of divergence. MDC-M agrees with Zanu (PF) that economic sanctions are real and the opposition must join calls for their removal.
“Let us, as the opposition, stop this child’s play of saying restrictive measures… When we do that we lose our credibility, we become as bad as the other side,” he told SW Radio last month, adding though that the first step was to remove the internal sanctions imposed by Zanu (PF) on the Zimbabwean people. Interestingly, Mutambara has often been more vocal in his criticism of Zanu (PF) and Mugabe than Tsvangirai, who at one stage was castigated by members of his own party for being too conciliatory to Mugabe.
The Deputy Prime Minister has been in the forefront of condemning the enduring lawlessness engulfing the agricultural sector, which Tsvangirai once described as “one or two incidences” which were being “blown out of proportion.” Events of the past 10 months have, however, shown that Tsvangirai and Mutambara have little choice but to work in tandem if they are to stand any chance against an intractable dictatorship hell bend on tightening its grip on power as opposed to power sharing.
Post published in: Opinions