According to Section 22.3 of the GPA, the JOMIC should ensure the implementation of the accord. It is supposed to receive reports and complaints and serve as a catalyst in creating and promoting an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding between the parties.
Political analyst, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, believes that the body has achieved nothing due to lack of unity among political parties.
No political will
“It (JOMIC) is not effective. Besides purchasing state-of-the-art vehicles, there is not much to show for their work. They have tried their best to reach out to people but there is no legal framework or political will (on their part),” he said.
Another political analyst, Eldred Masunungure, told The Zimbabwean that JOMIC had failed to play an oversight role in the GPA.
“JOMIC has largely been ineffective, primarily because it is comprised of relatively junior party officials. The only way to make the JOMIC effective is to expand it and include SADC Troika officials as was proposed by SADC, but this has not been implemented to date,” said Masunungure.
However, JOMIC spokesperson, Joram Nyathi, has a different view altogether. He said the body had pushed towards the prevalence of peace and tolerance in the country. He added that people misunderstood the body’s functions.
JOMIC misunderstood
“People should understand that our duty is to monitor, and not to implement. There are implementing entities such as the different political parties, the police and the courts. We only chip in where there are disputes in implementing,” he said.
Nyati added that last month SADC had seconded two representatives to beef up the JOMIC, David Katye of Tanzania and Colly Muunyu of Zambia, but they were yet to meet with the body.
“Katye, who is supposed to join the JOMIC, flew into the country last month but failed to meet the body after Zanu (PF) representatives missed the meeting,” said Nyati. MDC-T JOMIC representative, Elton Mangoma, said: “JOMIC is being undermined by the police, traditional leaders and government ministers who are always interfering. Zanu (PF) has not been co-operating.”
He added that the political environment was too polarized and poisoned for JOMIC to work effectively.
ZI involvement
A statement released by Zanu (PF)’s Co-chairman, Nicholas Goche, expressed concern over the influence of donors in the operations of JOMIC, citing the South Africa-based Zimbabwe Institute, which manages JOMIC’s finances on behalf of donors. Goche said ZI’s involvement in the organisation had extended to areas that had nothing to do with its role of sourcing and managing donor funds. He claimed that ZI had become the de facto secretariat of JOMIC, adding that this was “unacceptable”.
MDC-N Spokesperson, Kurauone Chihwayi, said, “We are not aligned to ZI.
This is one of Zanu (PF)’s strategies to frustrate JOMIC’s efforts in peace building. They want to pull out of JOMIC so that they will not be accountable when they stir up violence. Zanu (PF) has never co-operated when it comes to peace building initiatives,” he said.
Recently, JOMIC meetings that were scheduled for Chikomba, Marondera and Mudzi were cancelled after Zanu (PF) allegedly boycotted the meetings.
Post published in: News