JOMIC is a toothless bulldog of the GPA

By Sixpence Manyengavana (10/12/09)

The Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) is a special multi-party principal body mandated with supervising the implementation of what has been agreed by ZANU-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

This simply means that this taskforce was established to deal with issues relating to compliance with GPA requirements. Truly speaking, life has not been easy for JOMIC since it was constituted in February 2009 after a Southern African Development Community (SADC) extra ordinary summit on Zimbabwe that took place in Pretoria in January this year.

This writer does not see the reason for the continued existence of this Tsvangirai invention of a prefect in the agreement.

According to article 22 of the GPA, JOMIC should ensure the implementation in letter and spirit of the agreement, assess the implementation of the agreement from time to time and to bear in mind steps that might be taken to make certain the full and speedy implementation of this agreement, to influence the creation and promotion of an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding between the parties concerned, to receive complaints and reports in respect of issues with a direct relationship to the implementation, enforcement and execution of this agreement and to promote continued dialogue between the parties.

In simple these are supposed to be the functions of this zombie-like body which has been redundant from the very same day since the purported office bearers assumed their positions.

The question that comes to mind then is does JOMIC have the capability to carry out its mandate as required? This writer understands that JOMIC does not have sufficient funds to go about what it is expected to do. More-so, it does not have any legal or statutory powers to enforce the implementation of the GPA. Then one wonders why and how it has continued to exist.

On 16 October 2009, Morgan Tsvangirai “partially disengaged” from the unity government in protest of the alleged refusal by President Mugabe to conform to the dictates of the GPA. If that was the case why didn’t the Prime Minister write to JOMIC to register his complaints? Assuming that he did, what did JOMIC do to make sure the problem was solved amicably because this writer understands that the Prime Minister announced that he was going around the country to consult the people so that he can decide to re-engage or disengage completely?

The parties to the GPA made an undertaking that they will channel all complaints, grievances and concerns about this agreement through JOMIC. So many problems have been published in the media. Did JOMIC diarise or document these problems? If it has been by-passed, what could be a plausible reason for by-passing JOMIC which the very same parties agreed would be their vehicle of convenience?

We have mediators from South Africa who are here to persuade the negotiators from the three parties to come together so that they can prepare a report for the consumption of Armando Guebuza who is the chairperson of SADC Troika on Security, Politics and Defense. Is it not the duty of JOMIC to follow up? Check, control and keep a continuous record and report on the progress of the implementation procedure?

We read of the SADC Troika on Defense, Security and Politics having met in Maputo , capitol of Mozambique where it was resolved that the disagreeing parties to the GPA must start negotiations within a period of fifteen days and not to exceed thirty days. Well known propagandists have already spread their poisonous venom to the effect that ZANU-PF was given a thirty day ultimatum to comply with the dictates of the GPA or else…. No party was given an ultimatum but the three parties were urged to start negotiations within the period stated.

Again, JOMIC was nowhere near Maputo to reinforce the Troika’s call. Does JOMIC have the powers to force partners to comply with any specific provisions or it can only persuade them to be faithful to the letter and spirit of the GPA? Then what powers does this so called JOMIC have to make sure that it will be listened to?

The twelve (12) members shared equally between ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations should make themselves useful by concentrating elsewhere than hoodwink us by pretending to be advancing the people’s wishes through remaining in this JOMIC joke.

Eldred Masunungure, a University of Zimbabwe lecturer and political analyst, once mentioned that JOMIC is like an appendix, you can get rid of it without necessarily endangering a person’s life. He went on to say that one of the major challenges facing JOMIC is that the outstanding issues have no timetable for conclusion and that the principals can take their time to resolve them.

I guess my learned friend is right. If JOMIC is to be disbanded today what would be the likely consequences of the disbandment? The answer is absolutely, there will not be any effect.

Elton Mangoma, the Minister of Economic Planning and co-chair of JOMIC once remarked that if everything was working according to plan, then the recent meeting in Maputo would not have taken place. He meant that if JOMIC was doing what it is expected to do, then there was no need for SADC Troika to meet in Maputo and announce dates for the commencement of continued dialogue to find lasting solution to the said “outstanding issues”.

It could be that the body has been rendered powerless and redundant by the negotiators who could be by-passing it. But that will only affect the fact that JOMIC receives reports and complaints in respect of issues relating to the implementation. If those reports are not sent to them then it is not their fault. What about other functions like assessment of the implementation of the agreement, serving as a catalyst to create a good atmosphere and promoting continuing dialogue between the parties? This now calls for JOMIC’s initiative and it has been found wanting in that aspect hence it has been labeled a toothless bull dog.

Some school of thought may ask, why keep the cow if we can buy milk from the supermarket if all what we want is milk?

We read of the list of these so called outstanding issues ballooning every time the negotiators meet. One may ask where these negotiations are taking us. All these problems are JOMIC’s baby. Can some sleeping ear please wake JOMIC up because it appears it could be fast asleep?