A call for a government of National Unity - from The Herald..?
Is this a sign that Zanu PF are recognising they cannot simply steal the elections and get away with it?
The state controlled Herald (aka The Horrid) has an article today which proposes a government of National Unity lead by Robert Mugabe and outlines what they (read Zanu PF because The Herald is their mouthpiece) want SADC to do:
The Zimbabwe Government and independent international observers are agreed that the just-ended harmonised elections did not produce an outright winner in the presidential race. It is unlikely that the on-going recount will substantively alter that position.
Accordingly, it stands to reason that, the transitional government of national unity, negotiated by the two leading contending parties, under the mediation of Sadc, supported by the international community, should be led by the incumbent president.
For the above scenario to materialise, there needs to be a major paradigm shift in the thinking of three major players.
It is up to Sadc, assisted by the progressive international community, to ensure that such a shift does take place.
The three players are the ruling Zanu-PF party, the opposition MDC-T party, and the UK/US establishments.
Personally, I think that since they are now acknowledging the results are probably not as flawed or corrupted as they initially tried to claim, then perhaps the Presidential should be released so we all (officially) who the real winner is.
April 23rd, 2008 12:37
Yeah, they have just admitted that there was no reason to recount and/or that the recount is changing anything!
This is not about reason though, is it? And it cannot be over in a stroke, as you say.
This is about the building dams and reservoirs so the river flows towards a giant dam which will supply water, irrigation, power, fishing and a source of life!
April 23rd, 2008 12:40
Much as I hate to let go of the win - we know the MDC and Morgan won - and having rejected it before, this seems to be perhaps the only way out without massive violence and continuing tragedy. Mugabe gets his exit, the armed forces and police save face, and a new government can start. Even if transitional, it is a major victory. The points to watch are who controls the negotiations, who is ‘the mediator’ and ‘ the incumbent…’ as ‘leader’. Past experience demands caution, but… ?
April 23rd, 2008 13:04
BBC is reporting that Zanupf has won the first seat in the recount (wot a surprise) Anyone got details?
April 23rd, 2008 13:24
Following my earlier optimistic comment, everyone needs to read this article on the dangers that may be being cooked up for ‘transition’.
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/muponda9.18096.html
April 23rd, 2008 13:28
Goromonzi West recount:
Goromonzi West
Mp Party PVT ZEC Recount
Biata Nyamupinga ZanuPF 6193 6193 6194
Ian Makone MDC Tsvangirai 5931 5931 5931
Registered: 27980 Totals 12124 12124
Zanu PF gained a single vote in the House of Assembly recount. The Senate results remained unchanged.
Interestingly, the Goromonzi West election was one of two claimed to be “fatally flawed” when the recount began by SADC election observer Dianne Kohler-Barnard. She reported “ballot boxes with keys missing. One had a padlock open. Some had the envelopes with the keys sealed with Sellotape instead of wax… It tells me the box was opened, the ballots were fiddled with and it was repackaged but the person did it badly.”
So is this recount, which was the one constituency the MDC called for, a decoy? I.e. is it to ‘show’ there is no rigging in the recount process despite boxes tampered with? To ‘prove’ Zanu-pf is not rigging the other recounts?
April 23rd, 2008 13:30
This Herald report reminds me of all the hassle around the time ‘he’ got married. It was reported by independent journalists who were then beaten within an inch of their lives, charged with treason…. all the usual stuff. Then not long afterward the Herald made the big announcement, national celebrations etc etc….
April 23rd, 2008 13:32
Apparently Goromonzi West constituency - ZANU-PF had won this seat before the recount.
April 23rd, 2008 14:42
If I know anything about Cde Robert (Houdini) Mugabe, if he so much as gets a foot in the door, there will be NO true Government of Unity! He will simply squash dissenting voices in Parliament, and re-instate what suits him and his cronies.
And Zim will loose the next five years to chaos, starvation, inflation and collapse.
And – don’t forget – Bob’s very best efforts to re-educate the people with regards their wavering choice of President. He will simply attempt to beat every ounce of opposition from the Opposition till it no longer exists.
Remember – he is a most malicious, vindictive, dangerous, immoral, selfish, underhand man! Anybody who thinks Bob can be made to reason or behave in a civilised fashion is terribly naïve.
MDC won – and that is it. Even winning an election as rigged as much it must have been before re-counting…
No – I say – this is NOT the time for condescension, and capitulation. I would suggest that to do so would be to unleash horror even worse than we can imagine now, upon the people of Zim.
But, how… Well that is the real question!
April 23rd, 2008 15:08
Government of National Unity Will not work!
There is an old adage, “you cannot put new wine in old wine skins.” This is so true in the case of Zimbabwe. Some of those in power right now need to become the new Diaspora while we return to rebuild what they have destroyed. Tsvangirai needs to learn from the difficulties he is facing right now with Mugabe and his cohorts before any government of national unity (GNU) is formed. Every time I hear somebody talk about a GNU, in my mind I will be hearing, ”hey let’s have a government in which we will not hold each other accountable for our actions, as a starting point”. If they cannot understand that the people have voted and that their time is up, then make no mistake they will not be easy to sit down with and teach new ideas. That’s why it is said that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. They have already proved that the law of diminishing returns has set in and they cannot offer any new solution to the problems that the country is facing. Mugabe and his cohorts are part of the problem and cannot be trusted to lay any new bricks on the foundation of a NEW ZIMBABWE!
I believe that a GNU will not do our country any good. If we take a look at the situation in Kenya right now, indications are that there is a lot of turbulence and undercurrents threatening the sustainability of that government of national unity. They cannot agree on the cabinet as we speak. Recent reports indicate that all is not well and we could see more trouble in Kenya than we have already witnessed. In our case, we have witnessed a government of national unity before. The merger of Zanu PF and Zapu PF or takeover if you will. Although this eased the tension between the two major tribal factions. This fostered an atmosphere of complacency on the part of that government. It is my conviction that if the two had not merged, Zanu PF would not have been able to remain in power for as long as it did. This is because that merger or takeover effectively killed the prospects of a viable opposition, thereby creating an atmosphere of complacency and corruption. And that is one of the major contributing factors that has brought about this social and economic decay that we have witnessed in our country. There was no outside force or opposition to contest the actions of Zanu PF for a long time. So they became reluctant and unresponsive to the needs of the electorate.
Zanu PF enjoyed a majority in parliament for at least two decades after the GNU, thats why they were able to amend and manipulate the constitution as they pleased. This is not healthy, and should not be repeated. Think about the journey that MDC has travelled to get to a place where the electorate can trust them to do a better job. Are we prepared to go through this lengthy transition again? I ask this question because there is talk about having another GNU? Why should we always appease people with another day in power? I believe that MDC should take the reigns and Zanu Pf should go back to the drawing board, if at all they have one. They should become the new opposition. Maybe this time they will give the electorate reasons why they should be trusted again. At the same time the existence of Zanu Pf on the sidelines will help keep MDC competent in its pursuits. As much as I love and support MDC, I believe that a viable opposition will keep any incumbent party or government, on its heels of peak performance, to justify its stay in power. Democracy is functional in America because there is viable opposition and in most cases a balance of power in the legislative body (congress). Given that a two thirds majority is required in order to pass legislation, this is only possible by winning at least some of the opposition party’s members, in order for the legislation to sail through. Hence legislatures have to come up with very sound and unbiased legislation which is not designed to benefit one party at the expense of the other, or the electorate for that matter. It’s almost like the electorate is protected from abuse of power by its government. This is what we need if at all we are ever going to hold our members of parliament accountable for their actions.
Now the fundamental question is; when a GNU is formed are we not back to a new “Zanu PF scenario” from which we will need deliverance again? I believe that a GNU is synonymous with a one party state and that is not healthy at all.
I also believe that when there is viable opposition, corruption can not only be confronted but tackled and contained, which is something that Zimbabwe desperately needs, going forward. This will force corrupt officials to leave office when they are exposed. The presidential term also needs to be reduced to a maximum of two (Four Year) terms. It doesn’t matter how brilliant the president may be. They need to leave office before they overstay their welcome. Contrary to what is taking place in Zimbabwe, president Festus G Mogae of Botswana has just retired at 69 with two years to spare on his second term. That is food for thought for Mugabe, who is now looking for a seventh term at 84, thanks to our open ended constitution. Freedom of the press and broadcasting must be expanded to accommodate other players instead of having one mouth piece “ZBC and its cousin, The Herald”. If a government of national unity is formed I doubt very much that it will open up to other media. We will probably be back to where we are before long.
Let us not forget that the entire Zanu PF leadership is OLD and simply needs to retire! We need new blood in the country’s leadership. Besides the old guards, have a lot of baggage which may be difficult to deal with in a GNU setup. Some (like Leo Mugabe) have three, four farms and huge government contracts which they have received without any proper tender system. MDC does not need to appease this corrupt Zanu PF leadership. I believe that a new Government needs to clean house. They cannot do that while they are harboring old garbage at the same time. The people have voted for change, and that’s precisely what they are expecting MDC to deliver. Tsvangirai should not be afraid of running this country with his cabinet. Besides we will cut you some slack Mr. Tsvangirai. We are aware that the country has been taken back to the Stone Age.
Mugabe has made it difficult to even imagine that in 1980 the Zimbabwe dollar was equivalent to The British pound. The people were more oppressed during his leadership than they were during the Smith regime. The only thing that they have managed to show us is how to destroy a country in 28 years. This leadership reached its lowest point when Mugabe sent his ministers to go and look for diesel from that diesel mystic. If anybody had any doubt about whether or not there is anything left in their tank (Zanu PF leadership) you simply need to reflect on that incident. That ought to tell you that you cannot ask for a GNU with people that are bankrupt of ideas. It’s not workable, and should not be attempted. Besides a GNU will spend more time fighting within and make very little progress. The only way they can stop that infighting is, if they start giving each other candy and that means more corruption and cover-up will be required to sustain the GNU.I think we have seen enough of this!
Sijabuliso Mburuma - USA
Can be reached at smburuma@hotmail.com.
April 23rd, 2008 15:43
can’t something be done about mbeki ,cn he not be replaced by zuma or someone else before these recount results are out becoz as much as we had admitting apa zanu pf ichatohwina chete vakatogadzirisa kare.
April 23rd, 2008 17:18
No NO No.. Govt of national disunity is totally unacceptable. Why mix oil with water. Was wasn’t it proposed after the 2002 elections when ZANU PF managed to falsify the results. And who would be Mugabe in that kind of govt… We elected Tsvangirai not Mugabe. Why is ZANU afraid to respect the electorate? The Kenyan situation is TOTALLY different from the Zim one so we cannot solve different problems with a similar solution. Mugabe & his cronies should get ready to face the full wrath of a the law. We need transparency… ZANU pf should be accountable for ALL the killings and illegal farm seizures…..
April 23rd, 2008 17:28
@ Sijabuliso
Good quote…unfortunately the situation is a fudge because people are trying to square a circle…how do we remove the Mugabe / military regime… using the same tried and tested methods and old ideas THAT DONT WORK???…Its a dilemma.
The main issue is the total underestimation of the nature of the regime. How can you defeat it if you dont even bother to properly understand its nature or networks?
Imagine the difference in ethos between a regime prepared to destroy its own population to keep power…as you said from the internal killings that saw Mugabe lead Zanu …to the fight with Zapu…to the farm invasions to Ghukurahundi, to Murambatsvina..now Operation Mavoterapapi
And an opposition that cant even be bothered to protect its own members and supporters and uses their torture and death as a means of getting money and the support of a world that talks alot but does very little of real substance.
10 years of this act is atrocious opposition by any stretch of the imagination.
People forget the issue will be decided on the ground in Zimbabwe…the hypocrisy is that they want conditions to become so bad that unarmed, untrained, inexperienced people will face armed thugs…on the streets yet they are non violent.
From the early part of 2005 the regime has been in survival mode…(but what does it mean when a former guerrilla movement is in survival mode??? What are the ramifications for the people on the ground when such a group is backed into a corner…Sadly people dont understand that most of the people being killed are clubbed, or burnt, or hacked, to death…so Chinese bullets are of limited value when repressing a rural area)
The whole point of the recent mess is that when the people were ready MDC should have been forceful but they stood and waited…and let ZANU rest and reconfigure and set the pace and they still have no internal plan all the pressure is from outside. MDC seems to lose the initiative like a bad gambler loses bets.
Making noise outside Zimbabwe for ELECTION RESULTS???..25 days after its clear Zanu rigged the whole show.
Britain and the West and many civic minded liberals are making beligerent noises but have no force in Zimbabwe to protect people from the internal progom that follows all that noise. Why not???
Who is advising these people??? What happens next week when those results that all are clamouring for come out confirmed in Zanus favour??? Who will be lobbied then and for what???
Because the focus is based upon civilising MUGABE / MILITARY JUNTA rather than understanding them, you get a perennial case of a fudge.
All the talk of a GNU is just ZANU seeming reasonable while taking a breather until the next unwelcome development…its the same old pattern of confusion.
But until something takes place within Zimbabwe…
April 23rd, 2008 17:56
Sijabuliso, yes, I agree. My first reaction was grasping at empty air, probably fatigue and overactive optimism that we can begin moving forward. GNU was not what people voted for.
Associated Press reports: “The first view of a prospective unity government aired in the state media was expected to be seen as preparing the ground for Mugabe to stay in control and even pave the way for an effective nullification of the March elections ahead of new polls.”
Just another decoy then. Problem may be that many SADC governments may try to pressure for it.
April 23rd, 2008 18:01
Remove the military regime with force, hold the ENTIRE cabal to account, recover the money,allow only legitimate transparent foreign access to Zim, and start to rebuild the people and country. That’s the only way forward.
April 23rd, 2008 18:31
GNU with Mugabe at the helm??????????? How is that National Unity???????
April 23rd, 2008 18:32
Agreed, no GNU. In South Africa, the Mandela unity government appointed a few members of opposition parties to cabinet posts, thus extending a hand of friendship but retaining the leadership clearly with ANC, who won fair and square at the polls. That was a good approach that worked (more or less). There may be some ZANU0-PF people who could bring experience to the new government, but not under Mugabe, the habit of submission to him seems too entrenched (it’s even affected our own Incumbent).
He must go, and all the bloodthirsty, grasping old warlords along with him. As the Sunday Times headlined a couple of weeks back, “Save us from this vampire”! A good analogy. They’re just like the undead, draining the lifeblood of the living to sustain life beyond the grave. The best option for them is decent burial!
April 23rd, 2008 19:59
GNU!…with Mugabe at the helm. Sounds like a contradiction of the term National Unity. Who believes that Mugabe will suddenly become squeaky clean? The man is over-stuffed with self-pride and is vindictive. He will never reconcile the fact that a GNU is a ’second prize’ to him. The army trucks will be lying in wait once more at rail-road crossings, and other forms of sideways promotions will be effected on anyone he percieves to be opposing or curtailing his lust for absolute power. Even now he drags up conspiratory theories from over 3 decades ago. A leopard does not change its spots.
April 23rd, 2008 23:01
Oh, and not to forget that Zimbabwe will need plenty of fresh investment, which is unlikely to be forthcoming if Mugabe is still hanging onto power even as a figurehead. The international business and banking world will never again deal with Mugabe, and who would go to Zimbabwe with him still in Government?
He has ruined one of the most beautiful and productive countries anywhere on earth, because he is the kind of person who would rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven!
April 23rd, 2008 23:53
GNU with Mugabe is ZANU PF govt. No GNU!
MDC should be dictating the conditions of the GNU since they are the winners.
April 24th, 2008 00:19
Thinking on more rational terms now - doesn’t a GNU effectively foist something akin to a one party state on the people? Opposition will be amalgamated into one body. Unless we can trust this oversized committee to be self regulatory, the essential democratic checks and balances an opposition forces will be lost. Who will police the policeman?
A GNU is a short term solution - brushing the dirt under the carpet. In the long term, whilst an effective opposition is rebuilt from scratch, Zimbabwe will be heading down the inevitable path to intra-governmental bickering, and eventual breakaways. How much wasted energy is going to be put to use in in-house political power struggles and games, to the detriment of progressive and real development of the Zimbabwean people’s lot?
April 24th, 2008 00:58
Until the fortunes of Zimbabwe change, its people, both those that are now brow-beaten at home, as well as those outside who try to improve their lot, will not get the most of what they deserve. It is ultimately the mobilization of all the african people to work shoulder to shoulder, to realize the true integration of the African continent, which will unify and make Zimbabwe prosper.
Technology, industralization and trade lifted the Asian,and now also the Indian continent out of poverty. It can work for Africa.
But in Zimbabwe, the egocentric culture that has epitomized the Mugabe regime has made it impossible to give Zimbabwe a unifying voice, an African voice. Until the opposing lion learns to speak, stories of the hunt shall always be told from the hunter’s perpective.
Do not be afraid of so-called neo-colonialism. There is nothing particularly wrong with the profit motive, so long as it goes hand in hand with respect and dignity for the rights of those with whom one is doing business. The future is too precious to worry about whether resources are being ’stolen’, or stupid nonsense about rebuilding a white man’s land. That is foolish propaganda.
True leaders have emerged, and will again, in the continent of Africa. The struggle for Zimbabwe, is to set the stage in support of such leaders to guide her back on track, and play an important part in the future well-being of African brotherhood, a future which she so richly deserves.
April 24th, 2008 01:47
I would remind the MDC of the fate of the last party that ’shared’ power with Mugabe.
April 24th, 2008 03:31
The Herald alluding to a government of national unity and Bright Matonga again distancing ZANU PF from this comment. ZANU PF does not want unity with anyone. Morgan has on several occassions offered Mugabe the olive branch and he has consistently refused to bow out gracefully. ZANU PF stinks so much we would all smell if there was so much as a GNU. One person told me that ZANU PF ibere kana watasva wotoramba wakakwira nekuti ukaburuka unodyiwa. ( If you take a ride on a hyena’s back you have to stay there if you dismount the hyena will devour you). Thats ZANU PF. I think we should not be neive to think these guys can ever want anything that is good for the country. What would really be the basis for GNU with them. Should ZANU PF come to the table the MDC should set the pace so high rather than offer concessions to people who really deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail.
April 24th, 2008 11:24
National unity??? what a joke. The only thing I know Zimbabweans are united about is that MUGABE MUST GO!!! Even if he’s gotten rid off Sadam style- he must go (preferably to hell). This is a guy who was given a chance at a GNU after the 2002 election and scoffed at it- now it’s time to face the music! There too many thieves within ZANU and the only reason they’re talking about a GNU is because they heard about the money western governments have promised the MDC when it assumes power. These guys aren’t even shy you know.
I am not an MDC hardliner but you see after all the tricks ZANU has been trying to pull after 29 March I am now really convinced these guys need not be shown ANY mercy. I for one would have not minded Mugabe being let off the hook but now I feel this guy doesn’t deserve respect at all.
My advice to the MDC- refuse any form of relationship with ZANU [...], keep lobbying for international pressure and when the regime gives in -BRING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM TO BOOK!!! SHOW NO MERCY!!!
April 24th, 2008 11:58
Hi everyone
We have set up an ‘Action Contact Database’, based initially on the suggestions in this thread.
You can now submit contact suggestions for campigns to the database via this form here.
The database can be viewed at this link here on our main website. There will be further development as time goes by to both pages.
I feel with this tool we are really geared up to get things going much faster and to preempt activities.
The ship has disappeared, but don;t let out of sight be out of mind.
Mugabe is determined to get weapons - he needs them - we need to think laterally on how to stop him.
Can I direct you back to my comment here, ask you to visit the database, and then perhaps help fill in the missing bits of information we need.
I am dreaming now of a full arms embargo against Zimbabwe. I think it might be hard to achieve, but we need it.
April 26th, 2008 21:20
[...] Hope asks, “Is this a sign that Zanu PF are recognising they cannot simply steal the elections and get away with it?”: The state controlled Herald (aka The Horrid) has an article today which proposes a government of National Unity lead by Robert Mugabe and outlines what they (read Zanu PF because The Herald is their mouthpiece) want SADC to do: The Zimbabwe Government and independent international observers are agreed that the just-ended harmonised elections did not produce an outright winner in the presidential race. It is unlikely that the on-going recount will substantively alter that position. Accordingly, it stands to reason that, the transitional government of national unity, negotiated by the two leading contending parties, under the mediation of Sadc, supported by the international community, should be led by the incumbent president. [...]
April 27th, 2008 00:01
GNU? Let’s be serious here. ZANU PF is not the kind of creature that can be re-educated along truly democratic lines. They will soon enough usurp the whole concept of national unity for their own means. These guys don’t know anything beyond stealing and using state money, machinery, institutions and so on for personal means. No doubt a few will try to pass on their methods to the MDC legislators and we know that power can corrupt. We do not want aything to do with ZANU PF. The whole concept of a GNU is been sold to the people on the pretext that it will stop the building violence. ZANU PF is in effect saying join us in government or we will kill the people who support you. Almost like what they did in the 80’s. Killing Ndebele before offering reconciliation to Nkomo, who had no choice but to accept to save his people.
Is that what we really want right now? A GNU out of submission? Been armtwisted into accepting a partnership which for all intents and purposes ZANU PF can wake up one morning and abuse? They will retain control of the army, of the police and just as they did to Nkomo in the days leading to Gukurahundi. They accused him of treason, of keeping arms.
My advice is do not trust ZANU PF. They control the army, the police, the judges, the media. They are simply realigning themselves and thinking up other means of regaining their power. Why should we accept their hand of reconciliation now? Why trust them? We voted for chang and we won. Give us the change we asked for, without conditions. Any GNU will be a betrayal of the people’s trust in the MDC. I hope this gets to the people in the right places. We have spoken but have you heard us?