Public outrage over Cabinet deadlock

By Vusumuzi Sifile, Jennifer Dube and Davison Maruziva

THE deadlock over allocation of ministries between the country’s political parties has been described as a “sad and tragic development” for Zimbabwe, with ordinary people bearing the brunt of “political selfishness”.

On Friday, the three principals — President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara — failed to reach final agreement on the allocation of ministries.
Politicians, analysts, activists and ordinary people yesterday roundly condemned the deadlock — which has since been referred to the Sadc troika — saying the politicians were now “pursuing selfish ends” ahead of voters’ interests.

While there was widespread condemnation of the collapse of the power-sharing deal over government ministries, one of the principals blasted his two colleagues for not putting the interests of ordinary Zimbabweans first.

Zimbabweans who spoke to The Standard said they were dismayed and felt betrayed that the leaders were arguing a “whole week while Zimbabwe was burning”.
They blasted the leaders saying they were holding Zimbabweans to ransom over “petty party ambitions”.

“You would have thought that each of them would be aware of the suffering of the people,” said one Zimbabwean from the United Kingdom. “Everyone thought we were marking a new beginning.

“But what pains me is that while the whole world is facing a financial meltdown, we want to have 31 government ministries. How are we going to finance them?
“If the rest of the world gives us money they are inclined to believe it will go to finance these ministries.”

Losing presidential candidate, Simba Makoni yesterday said the deadlock was a “tragedy”.
“It is sad and tragic for our people that these leaders’ commitment to their pursuit of power is overriding the welfare of the people,” Makoni said. “For them to be in power is more important than to serve the people of Zimbabwe.”

One of the strongest critics of the power-sharing deal, National Constitutional Assembly chairman, Lovemore Madhuku, said the deadlock was a clear indication that the few leaders negotiating do not care about the plight of the people.

“These politicians never take anyone seriously,” Madhuku said. “They think they are the best thing ever to happen in Zimbabwe.”

Madhuku also lambasted Zimbabweans for “entrusting their destiny into the hands of a few individuals”.

“Zimbabweans are reaping the results of allowing them (politicians) to do what they want. We are the ones who have always been cheering them. Some even slaughtered beasts and held celebrations after the signing of the agreement. Zimbabwe is suffering because of allowing politicians to be signing documents everyday.”

Despite what appears to be hard-line stances taken by Zanu PF and the MDC, Madhuku said the parties “would eventually agree”.

Others looked at everyday issues, saying the effect of the failed formation of an all-inclusive government had sent prices spiralling out of control.

Highlighting the sad realities of the situation on the ground, Marble Sikhosana, a female activist from Masvingo said two councillors in Bikita had informed them that 13 villagers had died of hunger.

“People want food. People are dying out there,” said Sikhosana at a feminists’ conference last week. “Children are not going to school; there are no teachers in the schools. Education has been devalued in Zimbabwe, what with children writing examinations when they did not attend any lessons.”

Most systems in the country are currently at a standstill, awaiting the resolution of the impasse. State universities suspended opening, awaiting the constitution of the inclusive government. There is still uncertainty over school examinations. The Standard understands that staff involved in the preparation of examination material is on strike.

As the nation pondered the impact of the failed talks, Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation turned against President Mugabe and MDC-T’s Tsvangirai, saying they had failed to appreciate what an all-inclusive government entailed “because we will be operating as one government”.
Instead of focusing on the agenda and vision of the new government, the leaders had spent “four days haggling over positions”, Mutambara said, describing it as “a sign of leadership failure”.

He said the focus of their discussions should have been on addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in the country; a people-driven constitution, facilitating a democratic government; a national healing programme, where Zimbabweans can begin to be viewed a citizens with rights; economic recovery and stabilisation; and economic transformation.

Mutambara said Tsvangirai had secured the Ministry of Finance and the hurdle remained on the Ministry of Home Affairs, where it was agreed it should be rotated every six months between Zanu PF and MDC. Tsvangirai, he said, then asked that the MDC should be first. Zanu PF refused but on Friday, it appeared prepared to let the MDC take the portfolio for the first six months. But Mutambara said, something happened and Tsvangirai changed his mind and said “it was no longer sufficient”.

Mutambara, who expressed frustration, blamed Mugabe and Tsvangirai for the failure, said: “Zimbabweans must continue to suffer more because Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai cannot agree.”

He said he would condemn and campaign for international isolation if there was an attempt to go it alone by his two co-principals.

Today Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Mugabe are expected to travel to Mbabane for a meeting of the Sadc troika of King Mswati of Swaziland, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique and President Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, amid international condemnation after collapse of the talks. Former SA president, Thabo Mbeki has said an agreement on forming an all-inclusive government is still possible.

While Mugabe said the talks had gone “very well in the wrong direction”, Tsvangirai is believed to have asked for the “reference group” – the African Union and the United Nations – to come in and influence the direction of the talks.

The United States has said it will consider new sanctions against President Mugabe’s government if a power-sharing deal collapses.
Jendayi Frazer, the top US diplomat for Africa, said she was not optimistic after talks remained deadlocked between Mugabe and his main rival Tsvangirai.

“If it doesn’t work then we are going to continue the pressure that we’ve put on the government. We will look at new sanctions against President Mugabe and his regime,” Frazer told a group of reporters in Tokyo.

“Right now we’re not so optimistic. It doesn’t look very good for power-sharing,” she said.
European Union foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday in Luxembourg also warned of fresh sanctions unless Mugabe respected the power-sharing deal.

“The actions of President Mugabe are not consistent with any notion of power-sharing,” Frazer said. “We will have to see whether former president Mbeki will be able to get President Mugabe to agree to what he had agreed to, which was to truly share power.”

France’s new ambassador to Zimbabwe, Laurent Contini, who presented his credentials to Mugabe on Thursday expressed France’s “deep concern” over delay in implementing the political agreement of September 15.

“As recently reminded b y the European Union, France remains highly concerned by the deterioration of humanitarian situation. This situation has led the Commission to release a further 10 million euros in aid,” Contini said. “Because of Zimbabwe’s considerable needs in this area. We remind the Zimbabwean authorities of the necessity to ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian purposes.