Gono and Tomana’s replacements

According to analysts, the impasse is being caused by Mugabe who is
unwilling to have the agreement implemented as is. It is high time the
angry public call a spade a spade and tell Mugabe not to hold the
nation to ransom.

He is reportedly unwilling to nullify the
unilateral appointments of Gideon Gono and Johannes Tomana who he
appointed against the agreement. In one media report Mugabe is quoted
as saying that the government did not have the money to pay Gono’s exit
package. That is nonsense! Gono is not entitled to any exit package
from the inclusive government because he knows very well that when
Mugabe re-appointed him it was a unilateral decision against the Global
Political Agreement. The same goes for Johannes Tomana. If the two men
are to be given any exit package, it must be from the Zanu (PF) coffers
or Mugabe’s pocket. The two men should know very well that their
appointments are un-procedural and should be reversed.

The
principals should stick to the Global Political Agreement and agree to
reverse the appointments and identify competent candidates for the
posts. Interested candidates should be asked to submit their curriculum
vitae for a short list. If Gono and Tomana think they are competent
enough and are still interested in being considered, they should be
allowed to apply.

I am sure there will be many Zimbabweans including those currently based in the

diaspora
who will be interested in those positions. A team of SADC experts,
either Finance Ministers of Reserve Bank Governors should then be
invited to assess the applications and make recommendations to the
Principals who will then proceed to make the appropriate action as
specified in the Global Political Agreement or related guidelines. Such
a move ensures that the most competent people for these crucial
positions are recruited as well as de-politicise the process.

SADC, as guarantors of the agreement, should certainly organise such action in deadlock

situations.

Zimbabwe
needs to move forward, and this is m humble contribution to resolve the
impasse and move on. Reports I have received from friends and relatives
in Zimbabwe indicate that things are promising, so leaders should stick
to agreed positions and get the populace enjoy the fruits of the
agreement. – BENJAMIN CHITATE, New Zealand