Tsvangirai : Zanu PF must Comply or the GPA will Collapse
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
Posted by Dave Fish Eagle
on November 8, 2009. Filed under Main Headline.
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