Local politics
ZIG Watch : Issue 7
Sokwanele Article: August 4th, 2009
Future and potential by-elections 
The waves of democratic turmoil washed over from June to July with scores of breaches of the GPA being recorded, the majority of which fell into the following categories:
- wanton politically motivated violence, or violence driven by politicians,
- harassment, and deprivation of freedom, of individuals through contrived arrests on spurious charges,
- widespread corruption involving senior public and uniformed figures,
- the deprivation of the right to Freedom of Expression, and the abuse thereof,
- violent, unconstitutional, invasions and seizures of property and farms, and
- deliberate attempts to derail the Constitution-making process.
The month began with a group of journalists returning to court in an effort to make former High Court rulings ‘legally binding’ – calling attention to ZANU PF breaches of GPA articles covering both the rule of law and freedom of expression. The journalists had been barred from covering the COMESA summit on the grounds that they were not accredited by the Media and Information Commission (MIC). This was despite a High Court ruling in June that made it clear that the MIC was defunct, and that journalists were not required to register with it. 
Party breaches against Article 19 - click to enlarge
Deliberately delaying the release of all political prisoners violates the GPA
Sokwanele Article: February 23rd, 2009Focussing on clause 18.5 (j)
Sokwanele's ZIG Watch project has been documenting violations of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed between Zimbabwe's three main political parties. Through this article, Sokwanele aims to familiarise our readership with sub-clause 18.5(j), one of ten sub-clauses falling under Article XVIII of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed on September 15th 2008. Article XVIII of the GPA sets out to ensure the security of all Zimbabweans and to prevent future political violence.
Article XVIII, clause 18.5 (j) that while having due regard to the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the principles of the rule of law, the prosecuting authorities will expedite the determination as to whether or not there is sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution or keeping on remand of all persons accused of politically related offences arising out of or connected with the March and June 2008 elections.
Accountability and responsibility
Clause 18.5(j) specifically targets Zimbabwe's prosecuting authorities. Under the GPA, the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs has been allocated to Zanu PF, so the political party chiefly accountable for breaches in Clause 18.5(j) is Zanu PF. The person directly answerable to the people of Zimbabwe and to SADC for any breaches of this clause is Patrick Chinamasa, the appointed Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.
Patrick Chinamasa was also one of the principle members of Zanu PF's negotiating team in the drafting of the GPA, so he will be well-versed in both the letter and the spirit of the agreement. Very significantly, Chinamasa is also a Zanu PF representative on the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC) (Article XXII in the GPA). Under the terms agreed, members of JOMIC will monitor compliance with, and progress on, all the items agreed on within the GPA, including clause 18.5(j).
In short: Patrick Chinamasa helped draft the agreement that includes this clause; he is directly in charge of the Ministry that has the power to ensure it is complied with; and he is one of the people responsible for ensuring that all parties stick to the agreement on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe.
ZIG Watch : Issue 2
Sokwanele Article: February 4th, 2009
Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch (ZIG Watch) is tracking articles and reports which provide examples of violations of the agreement between Zanu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Formations signed in Harare on 15 September 2008.
A great weight of responsibility rests on the shoulders of Zimbabwe's new Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC), which began work in Harare on Monday.
JOMIC was set up to ensure that the unity government proceeds according to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by all three political parties on 15 September last year in an effort to resolve the nine-year crisis.
The 12-member committee comprises eight senior Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party members drawn from both formations, and four senior Zanu PF party members.
JOMIC will monitor compliance with, and progress on, items agreed within the GPA. The panel is tasked with resolving existing and emerging disputes among the parties or government agencies through dialogue. It will also receive reports and complaints in respect of any issue related to the implementation, enforcement and execution of the agreement.
In cases where it fails, the disputes are to be referred to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU).
