Mugabes deception continues

The reason for this unhealthy situation is that soon after the summit, Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) unilaterally decided that the implementation of these agreed issues would only be effected simultaneously with the lifting of the so-called sanctions by Western countries.

Good old Ago Mutambara of the tiny MDC-M twice wrote to the South African President, Jacob Zuma, advising him that the three principals in the GNU had agreed on this ridiculous approach to the implementation of the 24 issues. The MDC-T, obviously, denied that it had agreed to this arrangement, and now Ago is in all kinds of trouble as a result, including from his own party members.

In its limited wisdom, the SADC gave Zimbabwe 30days within which to fully implement the 24 agreed issues in accordance with the matrix that the protagonists had prepared and submitted to Zuma. It is obvious that none of the issues will have been implemented by the time the 30th day arrives a few weeks from now. There is no indication of what the SADC will do if that deadline is not met. There is little that the futile and weak body can do except stand by listlessly as Mugabe continues with his deception.

One of the most urgent issues that were agreed upon is the appointment of provincial governors, also called resident ministers. The terms of office of the current occupants of these positions expired on July 31, but they are still illegally in office. Robert Mugabe has never been one to be concerned about illegality, and it is unlikely that he would be anxious to do the right thing this time, especially since it concerns some of his close associates losing their prestigious jobs to individuals from both formations of the MDC.

The question is: what can the MDC-T do about all this foot-dragging by the Mugabe wing of the GNU? It is obvious that the Mutambara wing is of the same mind as that of Zanu (PF) even though both of these parties are aware that the MDC-T has no capacity to get the West to lift sanctions against Mugabe and his cronies. It is obvious that the issue of the lifting of sanctions is clearly being used as a means of stalling the implementation of the agreed issues. It is all a question of power-sharing.

Mugabe has never been happy about sharing power with anyone and he is not about to start now. To the geriatric leader, allowing MDC provincial governors to get into office is like chopping one of his hands off. Provincial governors are quite close to the grassroots and they have the potential of significantly influencing the political landscape in the regions. With the possibility of national elections in 2011, Mugabe feels that having six provincial governors from the MDC is too risky for his party.

Perhaps the MDC needs to apply more pressure on Zumas mediating team to insist that the agreed issues be implemented as soon as possible, and before the expiry of the 30 days set by SADC. It is also time for the MDC-T to start encouraging its members to take to streets protesting about the lack of real change since the formation of the GNU. Holding political rallies about this seems to have failed to generate the requisite response from the dictator.