Links ~ 21 July 2008

Mugabe tells army to stay alert (AFP)
Robert Mugabe has urged Zimbabwean security forces to remain vigilant. Mugabe said that the peace and stability in Zimbabwe could be contributed to the security forces’ loyal discharge of their duties to maintain law and order and to defend the country’s sovereignty.

“It is, therefore, incumbent on the forces to be always vigilant in the face of repeated attempts to demean and disrespect our sovereignty,” said Mugabe. The speech was made at a presentation of prizes to winners of a military shooting competition in Harare.

Lieutenant-General Phillip Sibanda of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in his speech assured Mugabe that the outcome of the June 27 presidential run-off election would not be overturned.

“The resounding win by His Excellency left our detractors wondering as to what had hit them,” Sibanda said. “This victory is in total support of 100 percent empowerment and total independence as espoused by you, your Excellency during the campaign of the run-off.

“It is true that our detractors are very unhappy with your victory and are doing everything possible to overturn the people’s will. We must, therefore, ensure that they do not succeed in their endeavours to derail the aspirations of our people,” said Sibanda.

Tsvangirai Still Minus Passport (RadioVOP)
It is more than a month since Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC has applied for a new passport. He has still not received one from the Registrar General’s office. Tsvangirai was told on June 16 that a new passport could not be issued due to “unspecified reservations” from the police. Last month, an appeal to the High Court was turned down, after High Court Judge Justice Chatukuta ruled that the matter was not urgent. Tsvangirai had paid in US dollars when he applied for the new passport, as the application would then be processed within 7 days. Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede said in a letter, in response to a query by Tsvangirai’s lawyers, that the application was going through “the normal vetting process” before Tsvangirai could receive a replacement.

Need to amend Zim constitution (SAPA)
Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe said that his party was in agreement with the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) that there was a need to amend the country’s constitution. Mugabe was speaking at a ceremony held after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the political parties.

“Yesterday (on Sunday) we agreed, Zanu-PF and the two MDC’s, that our constitution as it is should be amended variously,” said Mugabe.

Morgan Tsvangirai said that the signing of the agreement was “a very historic occasion” and said that it was “the first tentative step” towards resolving the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Humour masks enmity at Zim signing (SAPA / DPA)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of the MDC said that the political parties have “exchanged a lot of bitter words” over a decade and that, he now hoped that those divisions would be “a thing of the past”.

Tsvangirai however remained cautious in his overtures. He referred to Mugabe as “the president of Zanu-PF” or “Comrade Robert Mugabe”. Tsvangirai referred to himself as “the leader of the ruling party” in a reference to the MDC victory in the March 29 parliamentary elections.

Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe seemed to have taken a more conciliatory note after signing the accord. “We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction,” said Mugabe. He said that the accord was the result of “a decision, a decision that we made, we of southern Africa, made some time ago that we assist each other, and in this particular case we assist Zimbabwe, to overcome the political and economic situation which requires support.”

“Let us start to move forward on what Professor Mutambara has been calling ‘one vision’.”

Mugabe expressed a desire for “brotherly” and “sisterly” relations with the two MDC’s. He said that Zanu-PF takes the accord “quite seriously”. He however vowed that, “There will be no European hand” in future negotiations.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara sign deal (SWRA)
Zimbabwean observers have reacted with caution towards the “momentous” and “historic” signing of an accord between political parties in Zimbabwe. Some journalists and western diplomats were denied access to the event. Associated Press correspondent Angus Shaw is one of the journalists who were denied access. Shaw said that security at the venue was tight and there were riot police and armed soldiers, with sniffer dogs.

Another journalist said, “If this is the beginning of a real democracy for Zimbabwe and a new dispensation then we are in real trouble when only a select few from the media are allowed to cover such national events.”

Analysts fear that Mugabe may just proof to be a clever manipulator and that he is in fact only playing for more time. Shaw said that the MOU did not contain conditions that will be the main sticking points, like Mugabe’s demand to be recognised as President. “It is a very, very bland four page document.”

The biggest obstacle for Zim peace (SAPA / AFP)
The deep distrust between the MDC and Zanu-PF will remain a major obstacle and may slow down progress with talks to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe. With the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy, there seems to be a shared sense of urgency between the parties to bury their differences. Mediator and South African President, Thabo Mbeki, may have succeeded to get the parties to sign the accord, but neither Mugabe nor Tsvangirai will easily relinquish their claims to the leadership of the country.

Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said, among other things, that the collapse of the economy in Zimbabwe has weakened Zanu-PF and said that there was “an element of desperation on the part of Zanu-PF”.

“The economy does not respond to demands, you can’t torture it, you can’t kill it,” said Masunungure.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe, Opposition Sign Accord on Talks (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
Nelson Chamisa spokesperson for the MDC said, “The preliminary agreement setting out the framework for talks, the shape and form the talks will take, has been signed today. It is the initial step towards negotiations.”

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said that the accord could be signed after Zanu-PF and the two factions of the MDC had agreed on Sunday to “various changes to the constitution to allow the process of negotiations to go ahead”. Chinamasa said, “President Mugabe has said the negotiations must go ahead, that the constitution can be changed for them to go ahead”.

Political analyst John Makumbe said, “It’s a tentative step in the right direction, but at this point everything is tentative. The situation in the country is desperate and the gulf between the parties immense.”

Mass starvation looms for Zimbabweans (SWRA)
While global media reports are predicting that Zimbabwe is on a verge of a famine, there are Zimbabweans who say that they are already starving. It is estimated that more than 5 million people will need food assistance in the near future. The United Nations said that one third of the population suffer malnourishment and an increasing number of children are suffering from kwashiorkor.

Renson Gasela an official of Mutambara MDC and former head of the Grain Marketing Board said that starvation is now very, very visible. Gasela said that everybody in the country depended on maize and that there was no maize at all. Gasela criticised Zanu-PF for imposing a ban on relief aid and said, “When you remove NGOs from feeding children, what are you saying? You are saying that they are condemned to die.”

Towards a negotiated settlement in Zimbabwe (DC’s website)

Transcription of a speech by Senator David Coltart given to Bulawayo Agenda meeting: President Room, Rainbow Hotel – Friday 18 July 2008

UN envoy in Pretoria to discuss efforts to resolve Zimbabwe crisis (UN News Service)
United Nations Assistent Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios is in Pretoria and will meet with South African President Thabo Mbeki to be briefed on mediation efforts in the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

MDC, ZANU PF urged to expedite talks (Zim Online)
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged political parties in Zimbabwe that talks must be swift and short, as the state of the economy requires urgent attention. ZCTU said in a statement, “Inter party talks should take less than two months because the economy is in bad shape (and political) violence is continuing”. The union has recently voiced its support for targeted sanctions against Mugabe and top officials of Zanu-PF.

ZRP Edits Herald Copy (RadioVOP)
Isdore Guvamombe news editor of the state-sponsored newspaper The Herald, told participants of a workshop that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has demanded to see all stories on violence before it is published in the newspaper. ZRP spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena allegedly now edits or clears the stories for publication. Guvamombe said that the move was necessary due to security reasons.

ZAPU has not been swallowed by Zanu PF: Msika (ZimEye)
Vice-president Joseph Msika has launched a thinly veiled attack on Minister of Industry Obert Mpofu and war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda. Msika said that ZAPU, which had merged with Zanu-PF in 1987, had not been swallowed by ZANU and that ZAPU still existed. He said that he would publicly expose Mpofu and Sibanda.

Msika said that any party supporter from Matabeleland, who de-campaigns others in a bid to obtain Mugabe’s favour, would not be included in a Zanu-PF led government.

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