Links ~ 13 August 2008
Deal Sealed (The Herald - state controlled media)
The state controlled media has claimed that insiders have told them that “President Mugabe and the leader of the opposition MDC have signed the agreement. Tsvangirai refused to do so at the last moment, but this does not affect progress”. This has caused consternation around the world and prompted many emails to our inbox. The Herald also included some of its usual ham-fisted unsubtle propaganda when it also wrote that Tsvangirai had produced a ‘position paper’ that was compiled by a Western embassy and that it was deliberately tabled to force a deadlock.
‘Mugabe and Mutambara seal deal’ (The Zimbabwe Guardian)
This online news provider carries more details of the so-called deal along the lines of The Herald article, but citing an insider source from within the ministry of information and publicity. The quotes in this article sound and feel very familiar to those who are aware of how the state controlled media in Zimbabwe creates its own version of the truth. Some of the quotes included: “[Tsvangirai's] shifting positions reflect that he is not his own man”; that “Tsvangirai was holding the negotiators at ransom by making demands that did not represent the interests of Zimbabweans”; that “an invisible hand was definitely at play somewhere, remote controlling him”. It concluded: “The fear is that Tsvangirai might take too long to sign the agreement, in which case the other two parties [Mutambara formation and Zanu PF] will simply go ahead and form the next Government.”
Responses from some members of the Mutambara formation
See Mugabe party claims deal struck with opposition faction (The Daily Telegraph)
Prof Mutambara - leader of one of the MDC formations:
“It’s rubbish, rubbish, rubbish,” he told the Daily Telegraph
Email from Trudy Stevenson - MDC Mutambara formation
Sorry, friends, I have been receiving all kinds of information and calls, I have absolutely no idea what has really happened or why. It is inconceivable that we could have signed any agreement with ZanuPF without the Tsvangirai group also signing, since we have been negotiating as one team since July last year. Therefore I am trying to get the correct information, and will send that out as soon as possible.
Abednico Bhebe, from southern Matabeleland and one of the faction’s 10 members of parliament
If this has happened I don’t agree. This will be disastrous. None of us will go with him. He would be committing political suicide.
David Coltart, who represents Bulawayo in the senate
If that happened I don’t agree and I doubt the majority of our executive would support that decision.
Zimbabwe talks break to give Tsvangirai ‘time to consider’: Mbeki (AFP)
South African President Thabo Mbeki said Wednesday talks over Zimbabwe’s crisis had paused to allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai “time to consider”, while denying claims of a deal that excludes him. [...] “We have dealt with all the elements on which President Mugabe and Mutambara agree, but there is disagreement on one element over which Morgan Tsvangirai had asked for time to reflect,” said Mbeki. “We have adjourned to give Morgan Tsvangirai more time to consider these matters. “I’m quite confident they will resolve all their outstanding matters which would result in this inclusive government, and in the second instance then acting together,” Mbeki told reporters.
August 13th, 2008 12:17
I read that Emmerson Mnangagwa was the man with the news “deal signed with Mutambara faction” and Reuters spread it. How can anyone believe what this JOC member says to journalists? Why didn’t the journalists reveal the name in the news? Instead saying it was a official senior party member (oh, from what party anyway?). This kind of journalism even of recognised international agencys make me crazy, too…
August 13th, 2008 12:37
Divide and rule?
Up to Mutambara to speak up clearly?
August 13th, 2008 12:49
So basically there is one matter left to agree which would be far-reaching enough that Tsvangirai needs to consult with his party structures, as is proper. Dictators and would-be dictators don’t understand that concept as they think politics is all about big men carving up power. Meanwhile Tsvangirai’s need to consult with his structures is interpreted within Zanu-PF as a need to consult with his “backers” or “handlers” in the West, and they have made hay with that. They are so used to having absolute power over the people they govern that any consultation is assumed to be with people bigger than themselves, since they have never consulted the people.
So then they can accuse MT in the media of being obstructive, because none of them have ever been in a position where they don’t have absolute power to give and take as they please.
Knowing the sort of people we are dealing with makes sense of what is being said by the various parties.
August 13th, 2008 13:16
I think the leaking of the alleged agreement with Mutambara is a desperate attempt to get MT to accept an inferior deal. He should stick to his principles and walk away if he doesn’t get executive power. These talks could last another week the way things are going, but the longer they go on, the better deal MT will get.
August 13th, 2008 14:19
Re: Mutambara and Mugabe seal deal -
A part of Mutambara’s long-winded message on Heroes Day regarding the last four months of state sponsored violence says: “Any attemps to paint this mindless, state sponsored violence in the tradition of the liberation struggle should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.”
It would, therefore, be surprising to find Mutambara doing any deal with Mugabe which would continue to give Zanu-PF any retained position of existing power, and not dismissing such a proposal with the contempt it deserves.
August 13th, 2008 15:04
“This kind of journalism even of recognised international agencys make me crazy, too?”
It is a regular thing. We have had similar inaccurate reporting from Iraq for years.
August 13th, 2008 15:21
whatever the rumours and counter-rumours of whether Mutambara has sided with ZPF or not, I must point that the people of Bulilima East, Bulilima West, Gwanda Central, Gwanda North, Insiza South, Mangwe, Umzingwane, Lupane East, Nkayi South, and Tsholotsho South DID NOT vote for this. The sooner these politicians start to remember why they were elected, and on what manifesto, the better.
August 13th, 2008 15:55
and while we agonise, this from http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/13/olympics20081
“While Robert Mugabe’s faltering talks with Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai drag on, the president’s wife is spending the spoils of his kleptocratic regime. Known as the First Shopper of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe, below, is in Beijing to feed her foreign retail addiction. Here, the capital of the friendly nation that shipped arms bound for Harare during its bloody elections, she is more welcome than she is likely to be in London in 2012. According to the Beijing media, while the people of Zimbabwe starve, Mrs Mugabe has been indulging herself with purchases of pearls, clothes and silks.”
this is outrageous… this is where Zimbabweans’ money has gone/continues to go - are we just being mugabe-ed and gono-ed again?
August 13th, 2008 19:10
Why is there a sepaprate faction in the first place. What were/are the consequences of the split.
Never trusted this Mutambara character. Never will. Smacks of the Simba Makoni type. There to confuse issues get paid and our plight never ends.
In all honesty Mutambara should just unite with Tsvangirai. And squable after the talks from which they should emerge victors.
Right now Mutamara is being used exactly in the manner that the current news is depicting.
To cause confusion.