Posted by A SOUTHERN African Development Community (Sadc) ministerial team that assessed the implementation of Zimbabwe’s troubled power-sharing arrangement recommended that Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono should be reassigned to save the coalition government from collapse.
The recommendations by the brokers of last year’s Global Political Agreement (GPA) were given to the members of the Sadc troika on politics, defence and security who met in Mozambique on November 5 to deal with the Zimbabwe crisis.
They also set the tone for the negotiations between the three coalition partners, Zanu PF and the two MDC formations due to start this week as directed by the mini Sadc summit.
The ministers from Swaziland, Zambia and Mozambique who met separately with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and several other stakeholders between October 29 and 30 identified Gono’s continued stay at the RBZ as one of the biggest threats to the unity government.
The ministers said: “The governor of the Reserve Bank should be assigned to another position as a way of conversion.”
Zanu PF had told the assessment team that Gono’s tenure was not an outstanding issue as claimed by the MDC-T because his post was not included in the GPA.
But Sadc heads of state who met in South Africa on January 27 and convinced Tsvangirai to join the inclusive government the following month said Gono and Tomana’s appointments must be reviewed by the new government.
A communiqué issued after the Mozambique meeting said: “The parties should fully comply with the spirit and letter of the GPA and Sadc summit decisions of 27 January 2009.”
One of the negotiators confirmed that Gono’s reassignment would be top on the agenda when the negotiations, which according to a strict Sadc timeline must be concluded by month-end, resume.
“He is not going to be put anywhere near finance, actually he must not even be seen in a tuckshop,” said the source. “He has done his part, let him give others a chance to do the job.”
In a surprising turn of events, Zanu-PF spokesperson Ephraim Masawi said the party was not interested in what will happen to Gono who has been defended by Mugabe on several occasions.
“Gono is just a governor to the RBZ. Whether he goes or stays, it does not affect Zanu-PF,” Masawi said.
“He is not a member of the Zanu-PF central committee. I have been in Zanu PF for a long time and I have never seen him attending any central committee meeting.”
MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said he could not comment on the latest developments.
As a way forward, the Sadc ministers also recommended that Tsvangirai’s status as Prime Minister should be reviewed, with suggestions that he must have direct access to Mugabe.
They also spoke about the need for Sadc and the African Union to campaign for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe, for the parties to work together to stop external influence and create an internal mechanism to solve problems.
It has also emerged that Mugabe told the ministers that if “MDC-T does not campaign vigorously for the removal of the sanctions, Zanu PF will not move on the issue of governors.”
This was contrary to commitments by the ageing leader that the parties would share the posts of governors according to their performance in last year’s elections.
He also said MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett would be sworn in once he is cleared of “criminal charges against him”.
On the other hand Tsvangirai said the removal of sanctions was a collective responsibility and that where the parties disagree, a facilitator must be called in.
South African President Jacob Zuma was asked by the Sadc mini-summit to assess the progress towards the fulfilment of the outstanding issues before month-end.
MDC-T also wants the appointment of permanent secretaries to be dealt with while Zanu PF says it wants an end to the regime change agenda by the international community, the closure of pirate radio stations and that MDC-T must close “parallel government structures”.
Written BY SANDRA MANDIZVIDZA, The Standard
Of what value is Gono anywhere? His value is only to steal. A thief by profession and he is like by the thieving party ZANU(PF) who use him to raid FCAs and use the money to buy goodies for ZANU(PF). Manje companies are now clever. The government is now GNU and Gono is pa tight. He cant just steal freely as before. If I were him I would run away with my loot. He looted the RBZ cofferes and still want more. Iyo AIDS yabaya futi. He cant fly his doctor from SA as before.
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Thats the biggest mistake they made. Mugabe does not like to be seen to be being pushed to do something. If he had plans to reassign Gono, you can be assured that he will now dig in and tell MDC to go hang.watch
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Time is very important Abel. Mugabe thought that he could fool SADC by dragging the ourstanding issues to infinity. That was the time when Mbeki was spoiling his buddy Mugabe. Now things have turned. Mbeki was replaced by Zuma. Its not deliberate mfowethu. Mugabe wants SADC for protection against the Western Vultures who are itching to take him back to the Security Council. Obama is busy making friends with China so that they do not embarass each other again. Thats why China chased Mugabe who wanted to attend the Olymbics in Beijing. Thats why China has virtually dumped ZANU(PF). If you read one of George Charamba’s Nathaniel Manheru articles you could get a picture of how China dumped ZANU(PF). On that day, Charamba was celebrating what looked like a loan from China (Mugabe and Gono said then US$900 million). Biti disputed that there was such a loan but Mugabe went on to say it existed. Now no one is asking where that money is. Its simple, the Chinese told ZANU(PF) there are no more loans to be given through Gono. After that the IMF came with the US$540 million and Gono again wanted to grab it after being humiliated by the Chinese. Remember ZANU(PF) sent Emerson Mnangagwa to Russia to get loans and they came back empty handed. They were told that Russia is fed up. So Mugabe cannot tell off MDC-T because thats all MDC-T wants….so that Mugabe loooses the few, if any, supporters from the region. Next time it will be easy to drag him to UN Security Council. SADC will simply keep quiet.
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I think you underestimate the incompetence of your party my chief. SADC may try all that is diplomatically possible to give MDC an upper hand but I tell you those leaders of yours will not see it that way.Watch this space, you will continue speculating and hoping till kingdom come.
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ABEL DO YOU RUN YOUR FAMILY IS THE FASHION YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE US BELIEVE HERE THAT IS ITS HOLY????
IS THAT HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE??? THAT ITS OKAY TO DO ANYTHING AS LONG AS I CAN GET AWAY WITH IT??
WELL IF THAT HOW YOU RUN YOUR HOUSE HOLD THEN YOUR PARTNER WEATHER MALE OR FEMALE IS PROBABLY SLEEPING WITH SOMEONE ELSE RIGHT NOW.
ITS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG. WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE ??
WHY DO YOU TALK LIKE YOU GREW UP IN A VACUUM???
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Baba TEE stop shouting (as shown by your capital letters)
What exactly are you disputing here so that I can answer you properly. Where has the issue of someone getting away with anything come in. I thought my party was the only one with imbeciles, mea maxima culpa.
It seems they are everywhere.It seems you read a contribution on some other forum and came to respond here on Zim Metro which makes you look lost my mate. And where has the issue of some sleeping with someone come in anyway. I always say its not advisable to consume cannabis on an empty stomach before coming to the forum.
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Abel,
(sorry for the cap locks, am not shouting just cap locks)
On your other comments you admit that zanu lost in 2008. You also admit that they don’t respect the rule of law and democracy.
But because they can get away with it you think its OK
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I do not think its OK Baba Tee but I am pointing out that they are being allowed to get away with it because they have incompetent opponents. Any fool knows Zanu pf has become unpopular so whether I accept it or not is irrelevant. Who does not know that zanu pf is a violent party with little respect for other people’s feelings? They have been like that since their days in exile and we all know that. Thats why the methods being used by MDC are very weak to say the least and you and I must accept that fact. They dont have what it takes to remove the junta for us and we may have to use mass power, unfortunately there is noone willing to lead such uprisings. Trying to do the talking game with the master of politics will not work. One on one Morgan and mugabe, Morgan will be knocked out any day so there must be another way of dealing with the issue.One way is to remove the popular but ineffective Morgan
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If a person is to be removed you would rather remove Morgan and leave Mugabe there?? and yet you say he is a killer???and you don’t like him??
ZANU is the problem in Zimbabwe right now. and the MDC is trying to be the solution, weather they are good enough to govern or not we don’t know because they have never been tried.
The people of Zimbabwe should remove ZANU. NOT the MDC. we did that last march 2008.
Why are you making it the MDC’s duty to remove ZANU ????
I will ask yu again do yu believe the things you say???
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Baba Tee, you are very correct in what you say. However you are missing the point that since mdc is the one trying to remove zanu, they are lacking someone to give them leadership and direction. Too many blunders and wasted penalties that should have punished Zanu pf. Too many to mention. Imagine if in SA Zuma embarked on an exercise of demolishing people’s shacks or sat on results for 6 weeks or locked up judges,or oversaw a country with no water and electricity, where everyone ques for everything everday. where nothing seems to work. Do you think He would last another day in office? The opposition there is very organised and would snatch the first available chance because they have the proper leadership. But alas, We will keep writing on forums like this till we have blisters on our fingers while some boys ‘strategise’.
I will answer you again, I believe everything I write because that is what is on the ground happening now contrary to the wishfull thing you are used to.
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P.S if the remover cant remove then he must be removed to be replaced by a new remover.
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AGAIN NOT SHOUTING JUST CAPS.
THE MDC IS NOT TRYING TO REMOVE MUGABE ITS NOT THEIR JOB.
THEY SHOULD REPLACE HIM AFTER US THE PEOPLE REMOVE HIM THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX. ARE YOU SAYING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MOBILIZE A WAR THEY SHOULD STOP TRYING??
BECAUSE APART FROM SHOOTING GUNS. WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO??
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING??
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For starters they can try to have the trust and support of the security forces who are proping up Mugabe. This habit of theirs of playing to the gallery is what got them into trouble in the first place. Here in Africa you dont rule when the army is not behind you, no rocket science there.
Secondly they should show people that they are intrested in their welfare instead of merely whining about jobs for the boys like they are doing now. That way people would align with them more. As it is the votes they are getting are protest votes and there is no passion involved,if there was passion, when Mugabe stole the vote, the people would have taken to the streets to protect their votes but alas that was not to be since people deep down know that MDC-T is not really what they want but just want Mugabe out and Morgan is not really worth dying for.
You make it sound as if Zimbabwe is the only special country where a gvt has guns and can therefore do as they please with the people. What about all the other countries? I can assure you if what is happening in Zimbabwe were to happen in other countries , the gvt would have been ousted by now, have you ever asked yourself why. Removal of a dictator is not an automatic affair where things just happen.There needs to be a visionary leader for the people of which I am not so I cannot give you exactly what that person should do otherwise I would have challenged the current leaders, but I sure as hell can tell when someone is doing a shoddy job. Here Morgan is doing a kak job. He is playing second fiddle to a person he defeated and you want me to believe he is clever?That stage where Morgan’s bravery was needed is over, the game has reached the stage where you need a strategist.Boycotts and stayaways wont work anymore, its time to change tact. Considering that the international community is on his side,suffering of the masses is to his advantage, incompetence of Zanu pf to his disadvantage, unheard of inflation in the country, voters voting for him enmasse, I think I would not be too cruel in saying he has failed dismally to deliver.Both he and Mugabe should step aside for the betterment of the country.
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Abel, Morgan has gained international limelight due to his way of being non-violent. Mugabe must be using some “muti” because many people who have seen him at close range admit that he is very fierce. Over and above that Mugabe is very cruel like Mbeki. Mbeki killed by denying AIDS. Mugabe can instruct soldiers to kill and it will happen. Mugabe uses lethal legislation to kill opposition. Mugabe has spoiled some African leaders with goodies in order to silence them. I have read that Simon Mann wants to spill the beans about Mugabe’s involvement in Equtorial Quinea plot. MDC is saying that change can be done done without bloodshed.
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ABEL
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO. SO WHY YOU MAKING ALL THIS NOISE???
WAR IS THE LAST THING WE WILL DO RIGHT NOW WE TALK.
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Baba TEE, they are the ones who should show us what is to be done. They are becoming fat cats by being leaders so they must work for their money. What do I gain from advising them when I am just a nobody?
Its not that you dont want war, but you are too weak and you know you would get hammered that is the truth of the matter.
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Baba TEE, fyi, Zanu pf was in total disarray after the March elections and all that was was needed was a killer punch, they were caught totally off guard and what was needed was what Biti initiated , a killer punch but instead what did we see? Morgan appearing on TV and saying lets give ZEC a chance. What chance when results are held for six weeks? That is the time that zanu pf regrouped and regained their compusure. They saw that Morgan had not realised that he scored a goal and thought he had hit the side netting instead. Kupusa. And you say it shows being peace loving, my foot!!!!! That man has a knack for strategic blunders and should be replaced.
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@ABEL
WELL WE COULD DO THIS ALL DAY.
YOU SAY REPLACE MORGAN. I SAY REMOVE MUGABE.
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WELL I SAY,IF YOU DONT REMOVE MORGAN YOU WILL NEVER REMOVE MUGABE UNTILL OLD AGE TAKES HIM TO HIS MAKER
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