Thabo Mbeki’s letter to Morgan Tsvangirai - 22 November 2008

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The letter written by Thabo Mbeki in his capacity as Facilitator of the Zimbabwe talks, to Morgan Tsvangirai, President of the MDC (T) is now out in the public domain. (We have made it available above to read as an image - click to enlarge - or to download as a pdf document at the end of this post). The letter sent to Thabo Mbeki by the Hon Tendai Biti has been added to the end of this post.

At first reading there will be many who will nod their heads in agreement with Mbeki’s accusations that Tsvangirai is delaying the process of helping to stem the tide of the humanitarian catastrophe that is already drowning so many of our innocent citizens. However, this letter has also worked to once again divert blame. The Zimbabwean disaster has been created by and for the clinging to power of an illegitimate regime and, to a large extent, abetted by the very man who claims to be working for the resolution of the problem. Just go to the local papers, the Zanu PF mouthpiece, to see what a field-day they are having with this letter. Then perhaps one might wonder why Mbeki “leaked” the letter.

There is a debate raging within and without Zimbabwe as to the MDC-T’s strategy in dealing with the SADC appointed negotiator and the process of the talks. We all want change to be implemented as soon as possible. The Tsvangirai formation argues that the delays in reaching an agreement are being dictated by matters of principle, and that the people of Zimbabwe would rather see no deal than a bad deal. We Zimbabweans know only too well the cunning tactics employed by Mugabe and his gang of well-trained and astute plotters. Time and again, Mugabe has outmanoeuvred democratic forces inside the country as well as his colleagues in SADC, the AU and beyond to western voices, the UN and the EU. He is a master strategist in diverting blame, using racism, anti imperialism, anti Africanism and all the rest of the hackneyed excuses.

Again just go to Zimbabwean media to see the drivel being fed to the news-starved citizens of Zimbabwe, who have no access to satellite TV or internet or even a home grown independent press. See who they blame for the cholera epidemic, the cash shortage, starvation, the collapse of a country that once stood as a bright African light. Read the editorials and you will laugh out loud when you read that the Elder Statesmen are branded lackeys of Richard Branson and Bono, bent on interfering in politics, accused of being past their sell-by dates when our own so called “President” is fast approaching 85.

Some critics claim that there are forces within MDC-T who are throwing the proverbial spanner in the works so as to ensure their own personal agendas in the jockeying for position are fulfilled. We hope and pray this is not true and that anyone stooping to ZPF tactics will be dealt with accordingly, now, and if not the truth will come out and they will be held accountable.

There is no doubt that the democratic forces are not as we would like them to be: united and untainted. But let’s be honest, politics is a dirty game and people don’t enter that arena without some kind of personal desire to go up the ladder. This is no excuse for corrupt behaviour, but it is a reality.

The current delay in resolving the talks is minimal when you take into account the years of prevaricating over the Zimbabwe crisis that Mbeki is guilty of. The guilt that taints this so-called ‘mediator’ is undeniable and deplorable. For years we were subjected to the feeble call for “Quiet Diplomacy” from the neighbour who could so easily have prevented the disastrous situation we find ourselves in today. The list of wrongs inflicted by the one time, and now desposed, President of one of the most powerful countries in Africa is long and nauseating. Now he stands on the sidelines and dares to criticise, when he should indeed be hauled before the courts as an accomplice to crimes against humanity.

Indeed, when President Tsvangirai exposes ZanuPF’s disingenuous attitude to the all inclusive Government we do not see any letters from Thabo Mbeki being published in the press. The evidence as to Mugabe’s usual devious doublespeak is overwhelming: continued unlawful arrests, abductions, torture and murders; the appointment of governors; the reappointment of the architect of our economic demise, Gideon Gono; the ongoing torrent of anti-MDC and democratic abuse in the local press; the manipulation of food aid; the diversion of much needed foreign currency into buying luxury vehicles for party members and ridiculous items such as flat-screen televisions for judges rather than food and medicine. This blog will overflow if the list is to be completed.

Mbeki decries the MDC desperate appeal to the outside world for help for our benighted people, yet where was his “ubuntu” over the past eight years? When the world, and that includes our African brothers and sisters, knew our elections were marred by violence and fraud, Mbeki welcomed the repeatedly fraudulent results. When our people were fleeing over the borders, most by digging under fences, he denied the severity of our plight. His own country has benefited most from the flight of skilled people, most of whom are now seriously underpaid and abused in South African schools, hospitals, banks, etc.

As Zimbabweans we long for the end to our pain and suffering, but not at the cost of losing all freedom. We long for a united push from the voices of democracy, an unwavering and speedy commitment to ensuring we never again feel the yoke of tyranny and violence.

Please, Mr Mbeki, be honest and push all parties equally in the bid to end misery for the millions in Zimbabwe. Please exert pressure in the right direction for an equitable solution.

Download PDF here

Mr Thabo Mbeki

Dear Sir,

Re: Constitutional Amendment No 19

Given the fact that the SADC resolution is a nullity and has not been rescinded, it is then difficult for any of the parties to move in any direction for fear of legitimising the SADC Summit “ruling”. It means then that the negotiators cannot meet and work on the draft of Constitutional Amendment No 19.

There is a total meltdown in Zimbabwe and indeed a complete collapse of the state. Put simply, the state has lost any capacity to provide the basic amenities to the people in the form of food, education, health, transport. This situation, if left unresolved, will explode or implode and indeed such explosion or implosion will have a contagious multiplier effect in the region.

In addition to the meltdown, there are vicious attacks on the members of the MDC contrary to the dictates and spirit of the MOU and the GPA. There is a renewed wave of violence, abductions and assaults against the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe in the obvious direction of replicating the post 29 March barbaric violence, in particular the arrest and continued detention at unknown centres of MDC Mashonaland West senior leadership such as Concilia Chinanvanana and 11 others. Furthermore, the Zanu PF regime is crafting an assassination plot, code-named Operation Ngatipedzenavo (Let Us Finish Them) intended to eliminate the MDC leadership and decimate the party through frivolous allegations.

There are flimsy attempts to frame the MDC as a terrorist organisation that is training people for the purposes of banditry and insurgence. There are people that are being used to frame confessions and militias are being trained by Zanu PF to act as MDC bandits in an attempt to delegitimise the MDC.

We look forward to hearing from you on the way forward.

Tendai Biti, MP

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This entry was posted by Sokwanele on Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 3:01 pm. You can follow any comments on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.