By Tichaona Sibanda
8 December 2009
Two weeks of negotiations between ZANU PF and the MDC broke off on Monday without evident progress, amid signs of increasing frustration over the lack of success in efforts to resolve outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement.
Attempts to reach a deal have repeatedly snagged over whether Robert Mugabe will agree to rescind the unilateral appointments of Gideon Gono and Johannes Tomana as Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney General. Analysts say that doing so ahead of his party’ congress that begins in Harare on Wednesday, would have been viewed by hardliners in ZANU PF as capitulation.
Mugabe appointed the two without consultation with the other two principals in the inclusive government, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
He extended Gono’s term at the RBZ in November last year but the GPA says that all senior government appointments are to be made only after agreement between the three principals. Mugabe has however resolutely rebuffed calls to dismiss Gono and Tomana and the issue remains the most contentious in the talks.
Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us the talks have been temporarily stopped to allow negotiators from ZANU PF to attend their party congress. Negotiators from the Mutambara camp will also be traveling outside the country this week.
‘Although Chinamasa was on state television last night (Monday) saying they’ve handed over a report to their principals and the South African facilitation team, I don’t think we’ve seen an end to these talks,’ Muchemwa said.
‘There are reports the negotiators agreed on a number of issues but these are less issues compared to the Gono and Tomana demands from the MDC,’ Muchemwa added.
There have been no leaks from the negotiating teams except vague suggestions that the parties are close to reaching an agreement on some minor issues, but none of the key ones.
The negotiators also briefed a South African facilitation team that was in the country on Monday. The team, led by ANC stalwarts Charles Nqakula and Mac Maharaj, and President Jacob Zuma’s international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu, were handed a report on the current state of talks by the negotiators. The team returned to South Africa on Tuesday.
In Pretoria they are expected to brief President Zuma on the talks as well as present him with a report, which he will forward to President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, the current chairman of the SADC Troika. It is believed Guebuza will then decide whether to call for another Troika summit or a full SADC summit to discuss the outstanding issues holding back the inclusive government.
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SW Radio Africa
Sometimes you wonder how one issue can produce a whole lot of versions.We read elsewhere that the issue of Tomana and Gono was to be left until the last moment. Now Tichaona sibanda tells us that this is the issue stalling talks. Does it therefore mean that the other 26 issues have been solved? I doubt it.
And you wonder why some of these bogus stations need to be closed?.
You have choice Abel…at least you get to read the news…Even though some of it is contradictory. I suggest that you stop complaining of too much news and start campaigning for more locally based news so that our compatriots at least get some feedback based upon direct interviews instead of the intentional misdirection we are fed at the moment.. (Editor).
And why are these talks so secret anyway? It acts to the advantage of MDC-T who are habitual liars and cry babies. We should be hearing what is happening like they were doing in lancaster. Next we will hear tha Chinamasa has pulled a fast one again.
So Mr editor do you not have people on the ground to do research for you? Some of these bogus sites will tarnish your image.
There are no BOGUS sites…you are Paranoid Abel…The lack of concrete information is a result of the media clampdown inside Zim. Everyone is making assumptions. They are trying to fulfil a need. Your President and Chinamasa have caused this. You need to compare the media reporting inside the country you currently reside in and that imposed upon Zimbabweans. NO CONTEST. (Editor)
Oh I’m paranoid now?
Some of the sites you want to defend are plainly on an agenda. Are you telling me the site which employs the guy who reported on the beheading of a woman is not bogus.
I now understand why Moyo banned some of these papers,they were working against the state and in cahoots with foreign agens.In the countries you want me to compare with, those papers would be accused of treason and would be lucky to be allowed to publish anyway.I dont know why people want us to allow such KAK in our country.
What I support is a reform of the Herald and other such papers so that they dont feed us the one sided stories they are doing now. That way we avoid a situation of mudslinging where each side tries to outcompete the other. Our country is too polarised at this moment to take what you advocate for as media freedoms.Too many eyes are on our country. I would advise the gvt to tighten the screws on the media because we are seeing and reading fiction from both sides.
You now have two warnings Abel…This is the FIRST..you are divisive. You refuse to acknowledge that the Country needs a different type of discourse. It needs to be inclusive. There will be no acknowledgement of a transgression. The next will result in a Ban. (Editor)
Malvern , South Africa.
Mr Editor, Mr Editor, …You have Abel confused with the Americans who still acknowledge slavery , but will not apologize or take some responsibility, or Haulocost Deniers or something. This Abel guy predicted a lot of the courses of direction our troubled talks would take, much to everyone’s sceptisism. Well Chokwadi chinorwadza hama dzangu..!!!
Abel,we don’t need the Zanoid Herald to reform,what we need is a lot of free press.We should have a choice of media,like those days where we used to have about 3daily papers and on weekends it was jahwi.Competition brings the best of man.
I see someone has finally woken up from his coma and the first thing on his mind is , Malvern South Africa.
Anyhow Mr editor, who am I dividing here as you say I am being divisive. You would like us to be united in the wrong direction. I thought you were for freedoms but it seems you are not giving me that freedom, or are you saying its freedom to lambast Zanu pf only?It seems you are forcing me to to acknowledge that the Country needs a different type of discourse.What if I dont agree?
Abel,
I respect you because you are a very intellectual guy and it’s so refreshing to debate with you. But my humble advice to you is to stop being so paranoid. If you are working for ZANU, if you are a CIO, tell us and we will still continue talking to you and loving it at the same time. BUT if you are not working for them please try not to appear as if you are doing so.
Yesterday you were giving some arguments that I expect from brainwashed people only. (You are definitely not brainwashed) For example you said “A common peasant now knows what Mugabe thinks in terms of homosexuality, that he knew banana was a banana is unknown to them. What they also know is Morgan does not say anything about homosexuality and they are left to conclude that he accepts them” What ‘common peasant’ is worried about people’s sexuality? People are worried about food and jobs! Abel you have very strong brains, don’t waste such a treasure
Abel, do you ever have time other than shouting at pple on this website and spreading your hate speech and you gospel that Mugabe is strong, MDC is confused bla bla bla. Almost everyday. Though the Editor was adamant at some point that you are CIO or someone seconded by George Charamba to keep an eye of so called Pirate websites, I really cant understand how someone can be on the net 24-7 just to criticise MDC-T and to market Robert Matibili. At some point you pretend to be neutral and yet you get the same sense of someone who is very confused and angry. I even questioned how to survive because no worker can spend so much time on the net spreading the ZANU(PF) gospel if that someone is not on CIO payrol. I stand to be corrected
I meant “…Ditor was adamant at some point that you are NOT CIO…”
Thank you Mr Editor for taking control of your website , Expect more constructive comments from your fellow countrymen who had stopped contributing .Once more thank you
Abel do you have a skeleton in the cupboard? In some African countries like South Africa they have many radio stations and uncountable newspapers. The media does not praise politicians as is the case in Zimbabwe. There are murderers in Zimbabwe. I was once slapped in Rusape town of Zimbabwe, my crime was just reading the Daily News in 2002. This is not right. During election time murderers would ask “Long sleeve or short sleeve?” Long sleeve meaning cutting the hand at shoulder level, the short sleeve being cutting the hand at wrist level. Some victims are still alive this is not a lie. I hear people calling for elections in Zimbabwe, they have never seen the other of ZANU (on a very serious note). Some of the murders were captured on this website. It is not a lie. By bullying the media ZANU is creating a rumour mill among citizens. The Lord says, “Thou shall not kill”. Gukurahundi is one of the many examples.
My thinking is that Zimbabwe is b**** than Zanu-PF. Suspending the talks for the sake of their party is like putting Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe on the scale and then finding the scales tipping in favour of Zanu-PF. The two should have foregone the congress to attend to more important national business.Mugabe and his junta are playing some delaying tactics, whilst behind the scenes they are busy strategising. MDC will be caught unawares if they relax. A chameleon is always a chameleon whether it can change colours.
How come no one, Mr. Editor included will acknowledge what Abel predicted ONE MONTH AGO..?? I refer to the deadline Zuma as well as Morgan supposedly gave Gushungo. Look guys some of us have always been critical of the direction and leadership of our Black African brothers the world over, not just in Africa or Zimbabwe. Kwese kwese, Munhumutema faces the same moral dilema, ( No Family Values, Loose Morals, Lack of self preservation)…to put it all in a nut shell if I may, “we still have not recovered or assessed our selves after The Period of Slavery.” Stop engaging in quick Fixes, we are faced with imperial (the west) as well as exponentially expanding races,(Indians and Chinese) who will simply add to our problems, and unless we really collectively get serious about being Black and African, na mwari oh, we will face extinction by the turn of the next century..!!
I have no Problem with Abels predictions…I have a problem with his Negative attitude. It does no good for a very large proportion of Zim’s population to want change and someone screaming from the sidelines that the persons who want to implement that change are weak, ineffective and corrupted by other countries agenda’s. Diplomacy requires an effort from both sides. Nothing is going to improve unless everyone makes a positive contribution. (Editor)
The countries that sit on the “Permanent” SECURITY COUNCIL do not do so because they are Democratic, NO…Instead because each of them has a CREADIBLE NUCLEAR ARSENAL AS A DETTERANT..!! Those are the same nations, (U.K , U.S.A, RUSSIA, CHINA and FRANCE) that are notorious for regime change at their own convenience. We in Zimbabwe do not have a HISTORICAL relationship with the U.S.A . So when they (United States) sponsor the M.D.C, some of us imagine previous regime changes initiated by the United States ….Panama, Cuban attempt, Guatemala, Equador, Greneda, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Congo 1961, among others. Forgive us M.D.C, but the guy backing you is has done his Homework, ( CARPET OF GOLD or CARPET OF BOMBS) is how installs “Democracy”. Mr. Editor the only True friends Zimbabwe has are and will always be Zimbabweans, not someone handing down more Conditionallities and Consequences than God and Satan combined..!! SAY NO TO QUICK FIXES, or end up desolate and destroyed in the name of Freedom and Democracy like IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
Editor,
I think what you have done is OK. Someone who cherishes in the banning of private newspapers in Zimbawe should be banned on a site like this one. The MDC can be weak in some ways but the bottom line is that the majority of the people gave them the mandate to rule Zimbabwe. Now for a pathetic CIO like Abel to come here and abuse people with ZANU rhetoric is very unfortunate. Most of the guys who come here were pushed away from from their country of birth because ZANU refused to listen to the people. This is a very painful moral wound and we have allowed Abel to rub salt into the wound for far too long. We are not saying we all have to have the same lines of argument, it could be different but, as you said, Editor, it has to be positive all the time. Abel and his murderous cohorts have platiforms in the Herald (of lies) and Dead BC (a.k.a ZBC) and we should not allow them to come to our platform and taunt us like that. I can talk to a ZANU supporter, that’s not a problem, BUT I don’t want to talk to CIO agents because they are evil. They take it upon themselves to impose someone on a whole people.
Thank you Editor
Rinashe Dyembewu,
You talk about regime change as if it’s evil, as if ZANU is Zimbabwe’s Holy Grail. Remember, no American voted for the MDC in March 2008 but Zimbabweans did. Even if you are against the MDC, it’s fine, but then respect the will of the majority by admitting that ZANU is in a position that it is now by hook and crook. Tsvangirai was mandated to rule Zimbabwe by the people of Zimbabwe so irregardless of what the ‘clever and learned’ people like you think he should be the president now were it not for ZANU’s intransigence.
ZANU has been feeding people with this lie about America being behind the MDC for so long. But inspite of all the propaganda and the shamelessly uneven political field, people still voted overwhelmingly for the MDC.
Editor please, people who want to spread the myth that ZANU PF is better than the mass should not share the same platiform with those who want to be constructive.