Memorandum of Understanding between the Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) and the two Movement for Democratic Change formations
Memorandum of Understanding
21 July 2008, 19:53
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE ZIMBABWE AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION (PATRIOTIC FRONT) AND THE TWO MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE FORMATIONS
PREAMBLE
We the Parties to this Memorandum of Understanding;
Concerned about the recent challenges that we have faced as a country and the multiple threats to the well-being of our people;
Dedicating ourselves to putting an end to the polarisation, divisions, conflict and intolerance that have characterised our country’s politics;
Determined to build a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hate, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality;
Recognising the centrality and importance of African institutions in dealing with African problems, and agreeing to seek solutions to our differences, challenges and problems through dialogue under the auspices of the SADC mediation, supported and endorsed by the African Union;
Acknowledging that we have an obligation of establishing a framework of working together in an inclusive government;
Desirous therefore of entering into a dialogue with a view to returning Zimbabwe to prosperity;
Recognising that such a dialogue requires agreement on procedures and processes that will guide the dialogue.
NOW THEREFORE AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1.Definitions
The “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) shall mean this written agreement signed by the Principals.
“The Parties” shall mean ZANU-PF, the two MDC formations led by Morgan Tsvangirai and by Arthur Mutambara respectively.
“The Principals” shall mean the President and First Secretary of ZANU-PF, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the President of the one MDC formation, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai and the President of the other MDC formation, Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara.
2.Declaration of Commitment
The Parties hereby declare and agree to commit themselves to a dialogue with each other with a view to creating a genuine, viable, permanent and sustainable solution to the Zimbabwean situation and, in particular, to implement this Memorandum of Understanding.
3.Representation
The Parties will be represented by two representatives each in the dialogue.
4.Agenda
The Parties have agreed to the following Agenda:
4.1. Objectives and Priorities of a new Government
(a)ECONOMIC
(i) Restoration of economic stability and growth
(ii) Sanctions
(iii) Land question
(b)POLITICAL
(i) New Constitution
(ii) Promotion of equality, national healing and cohesion, and unity
(iii)External interference
(iv)Free political activity
(v) Rule of law
(vi) State organs and institutions
(vii) Legislative agenda priorities
(c)SECURITY
(i) Security of persons and prevention of violence
(d)COMMUNICATION
(i) Media
(ii) External radio stations
4.2 Framework for a new Government
4.3 Implementation mechanisms
4.4 Global political agreement.
5.Facilitation
The Dialogue shall be facilitated in accordance with the SADC and AU resolutions.
6.Time frames
The Dialogue commenced on 10 July 2008 and will continue until the Parties have finalised all necessary matters, save for short breaks that may be agreed upon for purposes of consultation. It is envisaged that the Dialogue will be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of signing of this MOU.
7.Venue
The Dialogue shall be conducted at such venues as shall be determined by the Facilitator in consultation with the representatives of the Parties.
8.Communication with the media
None of the Parties shall, during the Dialogue period, directly or indirectly communicate the substance of the discussion with the media. The parties shall refrain from negotiating through the media, whether through their representatives to the Dialogue or any of their Party officials.
9.Decisions by the Parties
The Parties shall not, during the subsistence of the Dialogue, take any decisions or measures that have a bearing on the agenda of the Dialogue, save by consensus. Such decisions or measures include, but are not limited to the convening of Parliament or the formation of a new government.
10.Interim measures
10.1 Security of persons
(a) Each Party will issue a statement condemning the promotion and use of violence and call for peace in the country and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the structures and institutions it controls are not engaged in the perpetration of violence.
(b) The Parties are committed to ensuring that the law is applied fairly and justly to all persons irrespective of political affiliation.
(c) The Parties will take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of political violence, including by non-state actors, and to ensure the security of persons and property.
(d) The Parties agree that, in the interim, they will work together to ensure the safety of any displaced persons and their safe return home and that humanitarian and social welfare organisations are enabled to render such assistance as might be required.
10.2 Hate speech
The Parties shall refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or undermine each other.
11.The role of SADC and the AU
The implementation of the Global Political Agreement that the Parties will conclude shall be underwritten and guaranteed by the Facilitator, SADC and the AU.
12. Execution of the agreement
This agreement shall be signed by the Principals in the presence of each other and shall be witnessed by the Facilitator.
Signed at Harare this day of 2008.
Robert G. Mugabe
President, ZANU-PF
Morgan R. Tsvangirai
President, MDC
Arthur G. O. Mutambara
President, MDC
Thabo Mbeki
SADC Facilitator
July 22nd, 2008 01:20
its a shame
July 22nd, 2008 02:16
free Zimbabwe!
this is my hope frome venice
July 22nd, 2008 09:36
I want to know where one puts their anger the suppression of it will only let it simmer again and will eventually boil over….Yes we can put it aside for now but there has to be a way for ordinary folk to re-dress their pain and anger and all that has happened….time heals all wounds as they say but unless lessons are learnt from the mistakes we will just repeat them…I am torn between being hopeful and being realistic..the hope comes from the trying the realism comes from the past and like you I think we all are suspicious…but I saw a group that prays in North Carolina and their prayers are “Zimbabwe Will Be Saved” their positiveness has lead me to dispel my doubts and focus on the positive outcome….Ever noticed how God answers our prayers but usually not in the ways we imagined…
July 22nd, 2008 10:32
Most of us Zimbabweans are suspicious of Zanu PF shaking hands with MDC. We do not like the looks of things at all.
I hope MDC will stand their ground with the rest of the issues.
At first you said no talks if Mugabe goes ahead with the sham election, now you seem to be signing to talk. Mugabe is clearly not interested in anything but himself, not the zimbabwe people and only obsessed on trying to outwit the western world.
Please, MDC, be wise! If you had not signed, the economic collapse would have kicked Zanu PF out.
Lots of blood was shed, please remember that, please remember too from the past that Zanu PF will always try and swallow the opposition, Nkomo, is a good example, after he killed Nkomo’s followers, he made Nkomo second in charge.
In my opinion, the only only only reason that Zanu PF are un-sincerely signing for talks and negotiations is so that the travel bans can be lifted, not because they are interested in what the Zimbabwean people want.
Its not an historic moment, it is clear to see that Zanu PF are being superficial about this whole thing, hence MDC people are still living in the bush, fearing for their lives.
Morgan, please dont eat with your enemy, think of the people starving. Rather sit by and watch him eat.
We all smell a rat!!!
July 22nd, 2008 10:38
4 million of us who have been fortunate enough to escape the country are still very much concerned about where this is all going, and if we will ever be able to come home.
My plea to the MDC is – when you negotiate details on a new election, please insist that Zimbabweans overseas be allowed to vote.
July 22nd, 2008 11:30
Wallpapering the cracks! Is it possible that Mugabe will use his pen in lieu of his favoured and power of the gun. Tsvangirai has bowed to violence of the militia and pawned peacefull democracy. Somebody will argue that this is an African solution to an African problem. Is it? Seems to me like this is an African politician’s solution to an African politiacian’s problem. Have the supporters of MDC given the party the mandate to enter power sharing deals, and this point is particularly relevant if the results of first round election are taken as a NO MUGABE cry. Has MDC also taken into account any voice of the diaspora, whose support was sought and given and whose voting rights the party argued for, albiet without success. They, the millions of exiled Zimbabweans, were considered to be a substantial factor in MDC arguments. Are they and the home based democratic Zimbabweans to be sidelined whilst politicians wrangle personal deals amongst themselves. Mugabe gets the best of the deal, in the circumstances. MDC hieracy is placated and it’s pre-election policies will be spinned but sacrificed nonetheless. Mbeki is redeemed. SADC and the AU will claim an image as a resourcefull overseeing body. The people’s view just doesn’t seem to feature in all this ’saving’. The Memorandum of Understanding simply outlines issues. It awaits how they are going to be individually prioritised and sidestepped.
I am sceptical, on past showings of African politics. This is not to say that things are not evolving, slowly. I do not think that any Zimbabwe crisis resolution along the lines being taken will herald any major change for the better. There is, I fear, scant more than hope.
Tsvangirai will be used to ellict Western support, and he’ll be lucky if he draws into the Zimbabwean ecconomy as much as he believes he would have got if Mugabe was not his bedfellow. I anticipate a slow but inexorable development of anti western tirades coming from a ZANU/MDC camp of ‘broken promises’ accusations. I await the eventual demise of MDC as it’s ethos is eroded starting from the bottom as counillors and MP are bought off one by one until finally it comes to light how much those at the top have stuck their fingers into the till.
Worse, in the regional outlook, power-sharing coming so close on the Kenyan deal sends a strong message to other African governments on how to maintain a grip on power. When your popularity starts to drop off and electoral defeat is on the cards, simply hack a few villagers, wave some guns about. Somebody will come along and broker a deal of protection and continuance of power, and wallpaper over any cracks.
July 22nd, 2008 14:48
By the way, I note in the MOU agenda one missing point – salaries for double the bodies in the halls of power. I’m sure Mrs Tsvangirai will want to be better accomodated (she’ll have to have a more palatial and competitive abode to have Grace round for tea), More Mercedes, more shuffling of farm ownerships, more expense accounts etc etc. More for the Zimbabwean taxpayer to fork out, or more to be siphoned off from aid.
July 22nd, 2008 15:41
There is actually nothing to discuss with murderous human rights violators. The people of Zimbabwe have the right to justice. Ask any right thinking person if he thinks Mugabe has any place in the leadership of a new Zimbabwe.
The answer is NO!!!
Consider this quoted from the MOU
“Acknowledging that we have an obligation of establishing a framework of working together in an inclusive government”
A government inclusive of who? What is an inclusive government anyway? Who decides who will be included. What ever happened to a democratically electd government. The will of the people was expressed clearly despite threats in March. Now we will have a government agreed upon by three men sitting in a room. The response is a simple NO.
Let there be a referundum on the issue of “an inclusive government”. Let the people be heard. Rule by the people for the people, People! Let us hold fast and not move an inch. These people are murderers they can not be trusted.
July 25th, 2008 17:11
I hope all goes well for Zimbabwe after the talks between Mugabe and President Tsvangirai. As a lady in her late teens looking forward to going for University I really want Zimbabwe to be a place full of justice, peace and sovereignity. Truly speaking Mugabe you have paralysed us!!! Wakura pfungwa dzako dzasakara chibvuma kusiira vechidiki nyika ( You are now old and this is affecting your line of thinking, accept the fact that you can nolonger rule this country we now want CHANGE). President Tsvangirai thank you for being man enough and Mugabe you are just but a coward! Mugabe you are leaving your children a bad omen or maybe they are not your children thats why you are not the least worried.
WE LOVE YOU PRESIDENT TSVANGIRAI AND WE
WILL STAND BY YOU ALWAYS!!!
July 25th, 2008 23:03
So the MDC is signing an agreement with zanu.
Well it will definitely go this way. Tsvangirai will be used to evade the pending sanctions. The rest of the world will see this as things normalising and give a sigh of relief.
Africa especially the Zimbabweans will be flabagasted by this sham. Some will see mugabe as shrewd and Tsvangirai as stupid.
How will he reverse what he has already bound himself to.
To whom is mugabe going to be accountable to for the atrocities he perpetrated during his early reign until now.
And we see him signing an agreement of national unity. Now Mr Tsvangirai, with whom has mugabe united with?
Remember he eliminates those who are against him. I hope this is not a treacherous trap.
July 27th, 2008 00:13
The two MDC formations are a sign of the potential of impending problems before the talks even start. Wonder what each stands for in these crucial times.
This smacks of the traits similar to what we saw during the split within the Patriotic Front of the late 70s.
Which later led to further bloodshed after the ‘independence’ celebrations and all pomp and ceremony.
Wonder how serious the disagreements are to warrant such an embarrassing state of affairs and the expression ‘The two MDC formations.’
We need urgent MDC maturity before this crucial stage ends up being a triad of political gymnastics and a display of disunity for a nation beset with intellectual rather than humane leaders.
Leaves a sour taste in my mouth/mind!?
July 28th, 2008 15:00
The Zimbabwean people have suffered enough so MDC should deal with this matter wisely. Talks fine but dont be swallowed please like ZAPU