To our utter dismay, Zanu (PF) continues to act as if they are unaware of the urgency of our situation.
Our economy is in ruins. Public education has collapsed. Ninety-four percent of labour is not working. Seven million people or more than 50 percent of Zimbabwe's entire population do not have food.
More than 3 000 people have died because of cholera in the past six months. Without a unity government to combat the epidemic, many more lives will be lost in coming days In short, one would have expected Zanu (PF) and Mugabe – ideally people who should be charged for wrecking our once prosperous country – to at least show some decency by cooperating with those trying to help them clear the mess that they created. But not this arrogant bunch.
First, they dithered over talks to resolve outstanding issues that the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC wants addressed before it can enter the unity government.
Zanu (PF) negotiators refused to remain behind in South Africa to discuss the outstanding issues after the SADC summit of January 26, claiming their air tickets did not allow them to stay a day longer in Pretoria after the summit. What a flimsy excuse!
Then, discussions had to be aborted midway on January 29 because Zanu (PF) representatives wanted to attend the presentation of the 2009 national budget – itself a meaningless wish-list unless a unity government can convince international donors to give us the money we need to jumpstart our stalled economy.
After that, we were told Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 19 Bill would be deferred to this week, which would have delayed formation of the unity government and prolonged the suffering of the people.
Luckily for us, the gods at Zanu (PF) had a change of heart on the Bill. But Mugabe and Zanu (PF)'s greatest show of contempt of the unity agreement in particular and Zimbabweans in general has been their insistence on keeping Jestina Mukoko and others in jail on flimsy banditry charges.
The proper thing if Mugabe and company were sincere about genuine unity with the opposition would be to release Mukoko and the MDC activists or if they have a case to answer, expedite their trial.
There are many people who have questioned whether the unity government will work. Others doubt whether Zanu (PF) has abandoned its grand project to swallow the MDC and ensure power resides in its hands alone.
We do not know the true intentions of Zanu (PF). We can only judge the ruling party by its actions.
To our great regret, the behaviour of Zanu (PF) so far falls way below expectations.
Word for Today
Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in them. But I tell you that people will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. – Matthew 12; 33-37
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga