Statement by President Tsvangirai on the Resolutions made by the National Council
January 30th, 2009
“Therefore, in accordance with the party’s constitution, the political agreement we signed on September 15th 2008, and in the best interests of the welfare of all Zimbabweans, the MDC has resolved to form an inclusive government with Zanu PF and MDC-M”
Statement by the Leader of The Movement for Democratic Change, President Morgan Tsvangirai, on the Resolutions of the Party’s National Council Meeting at Harvest House, Harare
Today, the MDC’s National Council met as we once again find ourselves at an historic crossroads in our decade-long struggle for democracy. Throughout this struggle, the MDC has been guided by the principles of democracy and by the will of the people. This campaign is neither easy nor straightforward and often we have had to change the fronts on which we wage the struggle in response to changing circumstances and conditions.
The MDC was established to bring about change through the ballot box. This we achieved despite overwhelming odds, culminating in our historic victories in the March 29th Parliamentary, Presidential and local government elections.
Then, the brutal campaign of violence unleashed against our supporters by Zanu PF, forced us to withdraw from the June 27th event. Thus it became obvious that we could no longer wage our struggle via the polling booth.
We looked to the region to support our position and the will of the people by acknowledging the results of March 29th as the basis on which a new government should be formed. Subsequently, we succeeded in forcing Zanu PF to the negotiating table which became the new frontline in our quest for a democratic Zimbabwe. It was for this reason that we signed the Global Political Agreement on September 15th, 2008.
I know that you are very familiar with the events from that date. We in the MDC have abided by the letter and spirit of both the Memorandum of Understanding and the GPA. Sadly, Zanu PF was not the type of constructive and positive partner that we envisaged when we signed the GPA and therefore, the consummation of the agreement has been subject to unnecessary delays.
Nonetheless, we have consistently tabled our outstanding issues to SADC and we have remained committed to finding a negotiated settlement to the political crisis in Zimbabwe. This process culminated in the SADC summit on Monday 26th January, where the Southern African leaders made the following resolutions:
I. The parties shall endeavour to cause Parliament to pass the Constitutional Amendment 19 by 5 February 2009.
II. The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers shall be sworn in by 11 February 2009:
III. The Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall be sworn in on 13 February 2009, which will conclude the process of the formation of the inclusive government.
IV. The Joint-Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC), provided for in the Global Political Agreement, shall be activated immediately. The first meeting of JOMIC shall be convened by the facilitator on 30 January 2009 and shall, among other things, elect the chairpersons;
V. The allocation of ministerial portfolios endorsed by the SADC Extraordinary Summit held on 9 November 2008 shall be reviewed six (6) months after the inauguration of the inclusive government.
VI. The appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General will be dealt with by the inclusive government after its formation
VII. The negotiators of the parties shall meet immediately to consider the National Security Bill submitted by the MDC-T as well as the formula for the distribution of governors: While we felt that these resolutions do not represent an acknowledgement of all our issues, they do represent significant concessions on the part of Zanu PF and a recognition by SADC that our demands are justified as a first step towards a sustainable solution to the Zimbabwe crisis.
Our National Council’s meeting today was therefore convened to evaluate the party’s position in relation to the inclusive government. The concessions made by Zanu PF incorporate four out of the five outstanding issues. These four issues are the allocation of Provincial Governors, the National Security Legislation, Constitutional Amendment 19 and the breaches to the Global Political Agreement.
Thus, the parties have agreed on the sharing of Provincial Governors portfolios and have already met to begin negotiations on the allocation formula. Similarly, with regard to the National Security Legislation, the negotiators have met to discuss the draft bill submitted by the MDC.
It is clear therefore that these two issues are subject to negotiation and therefore constitute work in progress. It is hoped that the work in progress will be concluded to the satisfaction of all the parties as soon as possible.
The third issue relates to Constitutional Amendment 19. The MDC has insisted that Constitutional Amendment 19 is enacted by parliament and signed into law prior to the swearing in of the Prime Minister and this has been agreed to by the parties as reflected in the SADC communiqué.
On the issue of the equitable allocation of ministerial portfolios, SADC reiterated its position from November 9th, 2008 and expanded its commitment to review the allocation of all ministries, not only Home Affairs, within six months of an inclusive government being formed.
On the breaches to the GPA and the MOU, SADC resolved that the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC), is established to review and reverse these breaches. This committee comprises four members from MDC-T, four members from MDC-M and four members from Zanu PF.
However, the MDC is concerned that the issue of the unwarranted and illegal abductions and detentions of MDC members and other democratic activists needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency and to this effect, the MDC will ensure an end to the persecution of all Zimbabweans.
In light of these resolutions, todays’s debate centred around two issues:
Firstly, what will allow us the best opportunity to continue to pursue our goal of achieving a free, democratic Zimbabwe in line with the roadmap from our Congress of March 2006? and;
Secondly, what is the best way of alleviating the suffering of the Zimbabwean people, stabilising the economy and restoring and retaining some semblance of a normal society?
Let us make no mistake, by joining an inclusive government, we are not saying that this is a solution to the Zimbabwe crisis, instead our participation signifies that we have chosen to continue the struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe in a new arena. This agreement is a significant milestone on our journey to democracy but it does not signify that we have arrived at our destination – we are committed to establishing a democratic Zimbabwe regardless of how long that struggle takes us.
We have the majority in parliament, we control all the main urban councils and many rural councils, we will have control of 13 ministries and a presence in the key decision-making bodies of the executive.
Throughout the course of our deliberations today we referred to, and were guided by, the road map that we established for ourselves in March 2006, namely – negotiations, a transitional authority, a people driven constitution and fresh, free and fair elections.
In this respect, the National Council resolved that through joining an inclusive government in line with the GPA and the SADC resolutions the party will be able to achieve the following: • To move towards a new, democratic Zimbabwe by ensuring that a people-driven constitution is crafted and adopted.
- That this inclusive government will serve as a transitional authority leading to free and fair elections.
- The restoration of the people’s freedoms through creating democratic space, restoring the rule of law and basic human rights.
- The stabilisation and rebuilding of the economy and the provision of all essential services, in particular health care and education.
- To maintain the principles of the working people’s convention established in 1999.
- To ensure that we begin a process of national healing and integration.
Therefore, in accordance with the party’s constitution, the political agreement we signed on September 15th 2008, and in the best interests of the welfare of all Zimbabweans the MDC has resolved to form an inclusive government with Zanu PF and MDC-M.
The success of this inclusive government is dependent on many factors including the goodwill of the parties involved, the support of the people of Zimbabwe and the continued engagement and vigilance of SADC, AU and the broader international community in ensurinhg that all parties are bound by the letter and spirit of the GPA and the commitments made at the last SADC summit. In this respect, the party shall continue to monitor the implementation of the agreement, in particular in shall assess and review its position in the inclusive government after 6 months in line with the SADC resolutions.
Now is the time for us to put aside our political differences , to prioritise the welfare of the people in both our policies and our actions and to focus on stabilisation, development, progress and democratization. In this I know that we have the support of the vast majority of Zimbabweans, both in Zanu PF and the MDC, in the civil service,the workers and the business community and we look forward to working with you to rebuild our great nation.
In conclusion, I would like to note that in this struggle we have not been alone. I wish to acknowledge the commitment and perseverance of SADC to finding a negotiated solution to the political crisis. In particular, we have had the unwavering support of our regional allies who have stood by us and our democratic ideals throughout this process and we are grateful for their solidarity.
We would like to acknowledge the support and solidarity that we have had from trade unions, civil society and democratic peoples’ and governments all over the world. We appreciate this support and know that we could not have come this far without them.
Most importantly of all, we have had the support of the people. A people who have stood by their right to live in freedom, with access to jobs, health care, education and prosperity in such a principled and peaceful manner.
I would like to appeal to all these forces to continue to support us in whatever decision we take because the struggle is not over, our commitment is not lessened, our vision is not dulled and our resolve has not been weakened.
We will deliver a New Zimbabwe to the people.
The struggle continues.
I thank you
January 30th, 2009 17:26
Welcome to my club Morgan. You cannot lie down with lions.
January 30th, 2009 17:54
Finally!
…well we’ll see how ZPF behaves through all this…no doubt loads of shenanigans, Bob will have a plan. But MDC should exploit their majorities, if they can stop the in-fighting within themselves and between MDC-M then they can do a lot.
Welcome to Government, for the time being!
January 30th, 2009 20:18
ZANU and ZAPU unity, referring to each of their party symbols, gave us Cock and Bull.
I shudder to think of Morgan’s Hand alongside Mugabe’s symbol. Time will tell if they are a bunch of….governors.
The Hand has appended its signature – with one flick of the wrist Mugabe is relieved!
January 30th, 2009 20:35
Unfortunately, this is a second-best outcome for the MDC – unable to gain the support of SADC to force the hand over of real power (finance and home affairs), they have taken what they can before they are forgotten by a western world with bigger fish to fry in terms of the ‘global’ economic meltdown.
This is not the answer we had hoped for, but at least it cannot possibly be worse than the present situation.
I hope our home and our people will be healed – and that it will not take too much longer.
January 31st, 2009 00:02
I have always wished Morgan well in his Herculean struggle on behalf of Zimbabwe and its people, and one must do so once again on this day. But I would also remind him: Know who your friends are!
The President of Botswana, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, says that “allowing leaders to hang on to power through negotiated deals after fraud-ridden elections, as in Kenya…and Zimbabwe, set a terrible precedent” And, “You can’t have a situation where a ruling party, when it senses it may lose an election, can then manipulate the outcome so they can stay on in power.”
Of course, he is right. Mugabe still has too much power. But the urgency of the whole situation is so dire that Tsvangirai has no alternative but to accept the MDCs lot. Let us hope that good governance on their part, coupled with the luck that destiny often brings, will help turn the tide from tyranny to justice and despotism to democracy for the sake of Africa, Zimbabwe, and its suffering people.
January 31st, 2009 02:24
However the MDC justifies their decision, I know my fellow Africans well enough to predict what happens next:
ZANU chefs will hold on to their farms and ill-gotten gains, Mugabe and his elite escape punishment for their crimes, and one by one, unable to resist temptation, most of the MDC’s officials will join the government gravy train.
January 31st, 2009 03:58
Lets see what happens with Justina Mukoko and the other abductees.
Otherwise the MDC will be in a govt responsible for holding her, colluding with it.
Or proving they are incapable, and nothing more than window dressing for the real power in Zim, the CIO.
January 31st, 2009 04:02
Will all the abductees in prison get to watch the swearing-in ceremonies on ZTV?
January 31st, 2009 04:16
Finally we can move forward as a people. You do not have to like those that you have to work with. In the end the voices of all good men and women should be given a fair chance to be heard. Lets roll up our sleeves and get down to work. There is indeed a lot to do, but together we can triumph.
Well done Zimbabwe, the world does not owe us a living, they have their own fish to fry. Let us Show the world what we are really made of.
January 31st, 2009 05:58
@Joshua Nkomo – Sadly, I suspect you have a point!
January 31st, 2009 10:42
Yep, I think that says it all.
January 31st, 2009 15:11
Hoodwinked is the phrase, I believe. The secrecy that has surrounded this saga underpins the paradox of how you can be seen to be democratically negotiating with the mandate of the people, when no substance of the negotiation has been made public. Mugabe has made concessions, we’re told. Look at the so-called concessions closely, and all he has agreed to is to ‘look at’ and ‘review’ the issues after ‘consultations’ (cf. consideration). Reminds me off applying for wage increases that will be looked into, reviewed, and taken into consideration, only to given a fast spin and end up no better off. Mugabe, in the end has the final say – he’s incapable of conceeding to the democracy processes – he is a dictator. What’s more, the very nature of Mugabe’s job description enshrined in the agreement ensures Mugabe can ‘legally’ remain dictatorial.
I notice no mention of addressing the crimes that were particularly prevelant during the election period, just to mention one such period of ZANU-PF excesses. These will remain on the back-burner whilst Mugabe uses the likes of Jestina, and Biti’s treason charges as trump cards up his sleeve.
With the AU summit just around the corner, the possibility of increased UN and US attention, coupled with the collapse of Zimbabwe’s infrastructue and finances, it makes one wonder what threats and sweet talking made MDC capitulate. After the many years it has taken Mugabe to proove himself to incompetant, ruthless, uncaring, greedy, dishonest, MDC have negated all this. Just for the sake of a few weeks more of hammering in the final nail!
I tend to agree with Graham. The lack of transparency and logic in the whole disgraceful affair, the complicity of SADC, the collusion of Mbeki, and MDC’s apparent lack of staying power would further lead one to wonder if gravy train is already heavily booked.
January 31st, 2009 18:45
I have historically tended to fall on the side of MDC, but since making my previous comment about MDC’s questionable staying power I wondered if this was an simply an accusation, or a distillation the party ethos. Aside from the gravy train scenario, perhaps MDC have painted themselves into the ‘goody-goody’ corner more than their own good’s worth.
By way of analogy I take a point of reference, from Wikipedia which cites “an estimated death toll in World War II of roughly 72 million, making it the deadliest ever. Civilians killed totaled around 47 million, including 20 million from war-related disease and famine. Total military dead: about 25 million, including deaths in captivity of about 4 million prisoners of war. Axis dead: approximately 11 million; Allied dead: about 61 million.”
(Note the high number of war related disease and famine, and captive casualties – sound familiar. As an aside, by 2008 in AFRICA the Second Congo War and its aftermath had killed 5.4 million people, mostly from disease and starvation, making it the deadliest conflict WORLDWIDE since World War II.)
Let’s turn WWII history around a bit – just to make a point by way of a ridiculous scenario:-
Just before would be allied casualty 61 million-and-one’s life flashes before his eyes Churchill and Roosevelt say ‘OK Hitler, how about we join this world domination scheme of yours. We’ve just about got you over a barrel, but 61 million and counting to your 11 million is just too much for us to bear. You can be head honcho and in control of everything that keeps you there.’
[Churchill, aside to Roosevelt - “We fought him on the beaches, on the oceans, the streets and the hills, and in the air – we’ll get the little sod in the Board room, don’t you worry”]
Finally, only 61 million individuals are laid to rest to ultimately prove Hilter’s claim to ‘My world’. That’s not so bad – the once allied forces argue – it could have been more; but we’ve put an end to it.
Mr 61 million and one’s family, being naturally preservationists, pay equal homage to Churchill, Roosevelt and Hilter, and laying weight to his (Hilter’s) spin doctoring that because Winston and Teddy were previously intransigent, they in fact caused the other 61 million deaths. Now that the detractors have come on board, the deaths have stopped. ‘Ergo, I was right all along’.
As for me, a number of decades down the line and a product of the Hilterian legacy – I’m just happy with my Government Issue jackboots and ration card. Under the bedclothes I will read Animal Farm in a ‘Mein Kampf’ dust cover, and believe myself to be free because I can still, at least, dream about freedom. I will never know how things should have been, as the final push to victory was abandoned.
Zimbabweans must accept that they are ‘cholerateral’ damage in the schemes of other men, and their lot is to bear the burden of keeping a select few in power.
To loosely borrow from Churchill then, the legacy passed onto generations of Zimbabweans is that in the name of MDC so few have given up so much, for so little.
February 1st, 2009 09:09
Now, with the MDC on board, if the Zim socialist economy continues its collapse, MDC will be blamed. If the economy ever recovers, the ZANU-PF will take the credit.
Mugabe is still very much in control, which means the MDC will be set up to take the blame for the collapse, if ever the West and sanctions are no longer blamed.
February 2nd, 2009 03:30
Never in the History of mankind have men and women lost so much in so little time – To borrow from Winston Churchill. The agreement is not perfect but it is a starting point for nation building, we had to start somewhere. we need to look after our people now and we do not have the luxury of looking at perosnal issues until we have addressed the pressing issues in our economy. Like in all cases once the crisis is over there will be a post mortem and then we will address the individual issues. In the meantime the task of nation building is upon us.
February 3rd, 2009 00:36
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. ”
Winston Churchill’s Tribute to the Royal Air Force, House of Commons, 20 August 1940
I loosely borrowed the sentiment as a parody in the context presented. Nationalist Nkalanga’s rework of his ‘borrowed’ quote points to one problem many Zimabweans have been misguidedly labouring under – that they are unique in their suffering, that is it unsurpased in history, and their submissiveness to the root cause is an enviable accolade. It is apparently a country-wide conception – not necessarily from Nationalist Nkalanga – that succour will attain from possible opening of the country, and assistance the world has been ‘denied’ to provide, will now rightfully flow inwards and rescue the oppressed, down-trodden. There are many Iraqi, Bosnian, Hungarian, Palestinian, Lybian, Cuban, Tibetan, Korean, English and American even who have not heard of Zimbabwe.
Indeed, in the end, the task of nation building must lie heavily upon the citizens. THAT gives national pride – and everything else follows as a reward, and not a right.
February 4th, 2009 00:46
By signing an agreement to lie down with the beasts, I fear Morgan Tsvangerai has betrayed those thousands who have died because they dared to challenge Mugabe and his ZANU PF, those hundreds of thousands who have been brutalised and left homeless and the millions, like me, who have supported the MDC cause both physically and monetarily. Shame on you.
Miles Anderson.
February 8th, 2009 19:20
Finding no new news on Zimbabwe developments since I checked last night, I’ve just spent the last hour reading blogs trying to get an understanding of the current situation and hopes for change. Events over the last week have wreaked havoc with my heart and mind. The illegal arrest and beating of a Zimbabwean employed by the US government as a driver for a food distribution program boggles my mind. One can see how Mugabe could justify abusing civil society activists and political opposition members, but someone whose only crime is helping to feed the starving masses? I can only shake my head. But then, when Tsvangirai complained of ZANU dragging their feet, suddenly there was another flurry of meetings and then the announcement that constitutional amendment 19 had passed parliament. And then treason charges against Tendayi Biti were dropped.
I was listening to gospel music in the car on my way home from work Wednesday, trying to understand if events of this week in Zimbabwe are the manifestation of His wonderful plan for bringing the people of Zimbabwe out of their darkness. I want to believe it is so. This song gives me hope, and I share the words and pray it will bless you with peace and comfort.
“Jesus is leading, three men up a mountain. To witness His wonder, in a transfigured light. John watched, in amazement, as he saw Jesus changing. Into a creature, of glory so bright. But now, John is captive, all alone out of sight. A prisoner in shackles, just longing to die. He remembers that moment, way back on the mountain. And he knows if he’ll hold on, his help will arrive. Remember the mountain, when your valley is darkest. Remember the sunshine, you felt on your face. Remember the closeness, you shared with the Father. Remember the mountain, in your darkest of days. Remember the mountain, and He’ll give you grace.”
I think what the people of Zimbabwe need most now is hope. Reading the responses to this MDC posting, I see such a mix of hope and hopelessness. The Bible says, in fact, that one day the lion will lay down with the lamb. There are so many people focused on Zimbabwe and doing everything they can to help. Zimbabwe is a beautiful country and it is important to the world. It will not fall off the radar screen of the west; we remain committed to providing whatever assistance we can. I had hoped to wake up this morning to the wonderful news of the release of all political detainees. I pray it will happen tomorrow. I pray it will not be too late for those in desperate need of medical treatment. Remember the mountain, and He’ll give you grace. In solidarity, L