Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai President Robert Mugabe, his partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), is calling all the shots. Unilaterally and in utter contempt of the spirit of inclusiveness, Mugabe has made no less than six appointments without consulting Tsvangirai. Only last week Mugabe reappointed provincial governors in direct contravention of the GPA. The state-controlled media, obviously on instructions from the Presidents office, have for some time been referring to Mugabe as the head of state and government and commander in chief of the defence forces in a crude attempt to confirm his omnipotence at every opportunity.
Tsvangirai is determined to move Zimbabwe forward, but some regressive elements in Zanu (PF) want to frustrate him into abandoning ship. I signed this agreement when the whole world was sceptical about the idea of working with Mugabe. The world questioned his sincerity. They questioned his integrity and his ability to respect an agreement with anyone.
They pointed to the fact that he had reappointed himself President, in breach of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and in defiance of the will of the Zimbabwean people, said Tsvangirai. In retrospect the world was right and he was wrong.
Wrong because he trusted Mugabe too much and also wrong because a leopard cannot change its spots.
Mugabe has been in breach of the constitution not once but time and time again.
Mugabe has singlehandedly appointed the Police Service Commission without consulting Tsvangirai. He has also appointed judges to the bench without the approval of his partner in the now not-so-inclusive government. Mugabe has refused to swear in Roy Bennett as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture simply because he is white, and Tsvangirai has finally realised the racist that Mugabe is.
The matter of Roy Bennett has now become a personal vendetta and part of a racist agenda, he said at the weekend.
Tsvangiari power rests on the people who elected him and that of Mugabe rests on the army that do not want him to go. Simply because they fought the liberation war they act as if they have title deeds of this country. Tsvangirai has said that he will not recognise Mugabes appointments but that is not enough to deter Mugabe. Most of the heads of the public sector and judiciary are Mugabes cronies and it is highly unlikely that Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, the man who officiated at the marriage between Mugabe and his wife Grace, will listen to Tsvangirai.
The two Co-Ministers of Home Affairs have no power at all over the police, due to the Police Act which vests powers in the Commissioner -in this case Augustine Chihuri, one of the service chiefs who has said that he will not salute Tsvangirai.
And on the Governors, Tsvangirai has to convince Zanu (PF) hardliner Edna Madzongwe, the President of the Senate, not to recognise them – a daunting task indeed. Tsvangirai seems to be well aware of his limitations and is now relying on SADC, the guarantors of the GPA, to convince Mugabe to be a good boy.
It is not surprising that Tsvangirai has on several occasions called for elections next year. Mugabe has betrayed him.
Tsvangirai knows that he has been betrayed but does not have the mechanism to stop Mugabe, he knows he has to continue in the GNU or otherwise the gains of the past year, which have seen schools reopening, health facilities functioning again and basic commodities back on shelves, will be reversed. Already Zanu (PF) has started to unleash the machine of terror that was used in 2008.
Tsvangirai is well aware that he has suffered some defeats which have even affected his reputation but is determined to fight on. I will not win every fight in the short-term, but I assure you that I am as committed as you are to winning the war and win we shall, he declared in a statement to the people of Zimbabwe last week.
Post published in: News