HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has praised the SADC for its “rare but firm stand” against President Robert Mugabe’s refusal to stick to the terms of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and its communiqué on Zimbabwe in January this year.The MDC leader said his party agreed to suspend its three-week long boycott of mainstream government last Thursday after the SADC Troika put a 15-day deadline to the resolution of outstanding issues.
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During Thursday’s summit in Maputo, Tsvangirai said, SADC leaders were reluctant to buy into Zanu-PF’s claim the MDC was also responsible for the political deadlock in Zimbabwe through refusal to effectively condemn western imposed targeted sanctions on some Zanu-PF loyalists.
He said he received assurances from South African President Jacob Zuma during the summit he would present himself in Harare after 15 days to push the parties to resolve the outstanding issues should they still be deadlocked.
SADC gave Zimbabwe’s feuding parties a maximum of 30 days to resolve outstanding issues.
Chief among the issues are the unilateral appointment by Mugabe, of central bank governor Gideon Gono, Attorney General Johannes Tomana and party loyalists to the country’s provincial governorship posts.
The MDC is also concerned with the culture of impunity that continues to be displayed by Zanu-PF through fresh farm invasions, political violence and the arrest of party MPs often on spurious charges.
Tsvangirai urged Zanu-PF to use the window period granted by SADC to demonstrate goodwill towards the success of the inclusive government or risk its complete collapse.
“Zanu-PF has this window of opportunity to demonstrate goodwill, to demonstrate their commitment to the inclusive government, to demonstrate that they are committed to SADC’s resolutions as well as the GPA, to demonstrate that they are able to commit themselves to love this country forward,” Tsvangirai said.
He was addressing thousands of party supporters who thronged Chibuku stadium in Chitungwiza town Sunday to commemorate the MDC’s 10th anniversary.
“Our message to Zanu-PF is if you thought we were not serious, I think you have experienced one lesson,” he said.
“If you want this inclusive government to deliver to the people of Zimbabwe, then you must regard the MDC as an equal partner not as a junior partner. We are not a junior partner when we have got the mandate of the people.
“We did not join this government on the generosity of Zanu-PF or Robert Mugabe. We went in there on the principle that this is shared authority, shared compromise to take our country forward.”
Tsvangirai said he would not be discouraged by intense vilification by Zanu-PF propagandists in state media angered by his party’s decision mid-last month to disengage from cabinet while demanding the full implementation of the GPA.
“There are some who say I am immature because I led my party into disengaging from cabinet,” Tsvangirai said.
“I do not need the education of The Sunday Mail to tell me about my maturity or whatever.
“I don’t need the Herald or George Charamba to tell me whether I am mature or not. If they want to promote a one-sided media, let them.
“But I want to assure you we will deal with them. The inclusive government must have one message not two messages.
“You cannot criticize other parties in the same inclusive government while praising some. Don’t apportion blame on other parties; don’t apportion success on other parties.”
Lately, the MDC has included the continued hate speech by Charamba, the permanent secretary in the media and information ministry and Mugabe’s spokesperson, among the issues that must be resolved.
Tsvangirai berated President Mugabe for clinging to power saying he has fluffed an opportunity to salvage his legacy as founding president and liberator of Zimbabwe.
“I do not know what this man really wants. Does he want to die in power? Even in his own party Zanu-PF, he has eaten into the second and third generation. When will he pass the baton?”
He said Mugabe had also compromised the political fortunes of his party, saying Zanu-PF would find it difficult to renew itself and pose a challenge in local politics.
The MDC leader also said his party would not rest in its quest to see to it that all state institutions promote basic freedoms among citizens.
Written By: Raymond Maingire, The Zimbabwe Mail
Nicol please. SADC can no longer buy the nonsense of sanctions. Zimbabweans need those restrictions because they save the country money. Mugabe is busy attending every small kitchen party around the world to those countries which still allow him in. What if Europe and America allow him into their countries, everyday we will be told “President is out to…. He was is accompanied by the wife Grace and “senior government officials” “. Thats sad. Mugabe’s travel budget chews millions every year. What for? Stay at home. You never heard that George Bush had a holiday outside USA. Whats wrong with Mugabe having his holiday in Victoria Falls, Nyanga etc? This mad man must go. Now he spends over US$40 million paying for the upkeep of useless scholarships “Presidential scholarship” where thousands of ZANU(PF) children attend school in South African Universities. This money should instead have been pooled back into UZ and NUST. Mugabe and ZANU(PF) are finished thats why they can only look at other parties and label them puppets. What more can they say these mafia? Nothing.
nicol, what’s with the insults and the hate speech? What’s got you so frustrated and angry? Could you not make your point without resorting to abusive language?
Cry the beloved country’. I know Zimbabweans can rise from the dust
Mr Editor, I think you should have removed all the comments not just Nicol’s .People will be left wondering what he said that people are now responding to.
Famba Tsvangirai!
words I used 4 tsvangirai r best 2 describe him,a man with no shame,the bubbling naked emperor ,the loosehead cannon.let me stop describbling him b4 I bcom an outstanding issue like cde charamba.to the mdc freedom of speech is theirs only wen they spew explicity garbage abt pres mugabe.nyarara zvako abhero ndanga ndamutuka tsvangirai asi ndichitaura chokwadi.
Let me be Honest Nicol…You are spewing abuse…you are promoting hate speech..you are therefore on your last warning…(Editor)
Zvimbwasungata zvinonetsa Nicol.They cruise for a bruising and when they get it they cry foul. Sad indeed.
Abel, as long as you believe that a human being who reasons like you, deserves to be bruised for stating their own mind, then i have no problem with you and Nicol’s contributions cause it proves a point – you are insane.
Ana Guseni!!! What exactly are your points. Simply labelling someone will not remove Mugabe for you.You and your so called reasoning have been at it for a decade now and nothing to show for it.Good luck.