Bhekizulu Sibanda (04/11/09)

 MDC-T’s presumptuous disengagement resolution is meant to taint their partner ZANU (PF) as strange bedfellows, with no moral principles. Already the MDC has described ZANU (PF) as an unreliable and dishonest partner bent on manipulating them, whilst they have portrayed themselves as naïve, coy and being taken advantage of

This is the ZANU (PF) that has been created by MDC in the minds of many people. The MDC have managed to paint a picture of a monstrous matrimony with ZANU (PF), where they have assumed the role of underdogs…. But, the question is, is this a true picture of this relationship?

Because the MDC is an attention seeker and is in the habit of wailing and raising false alarm whenever it suits them, they have gained the sympathy of many people especially the Independent and International media who take MDC’s commitment to the GPA as obvious.

Resultantly there has been a lot of silence and less scrutiny on MDC fulfillment of the GPA. Instead so much focus has been placed on ZANU (PF) as if to imply that ZANU (PF) is the only party with a mandate to comply with the GPA resolution whilst the MDC is allowed to go scout free.

However, the question to ask would be has the MDC been the faithful and unadulterated partner it purports to be? Is she not guilty of defiling the matrimonial bed?

Article 4 of the GPA amongst other issues calls for all forms of measures and sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted in order to facilitate a sustainable solution to the challenges that are currently facing Zimbabwe.

Until the MDC manages to successfully call for the removal of the sanctions currently imposed on Zimbabwe, it simply means they have failed to meet a part of their bargain as well. The MDC have a mandate to remove the sanctions because they deliberately, or wittingly courted Western sanctions upon Zimbabwe.

If the MDC supported the sanctions wittingly, believing they would damage the interests of ZANU (PF), it’s about time they acknowledged their naivety and started repairing their damage.

I am not sure if the MDC had signed an agreement with the western powers that after a certain period they would call off the sanctions, because what they did not realize was that although they were fighting a common war the with West against Mugabe and his government, the motives only correlated but did not necessarily originate from the same source. The West won’t relent until the land issue is addressed and they have nothing to lose if Zimbabwean continues to suffer, so MDC has a humongous task ahead.

Article 5.5 of the GPA calls for all parties to accept the irreversibility of the said land acquisitions and redistribution. In sharp contrast, their Policy Coordinator, Eddie Cross, who is also a National Executive after their 10 th anniversary celebrations in Bulawayo released a statement to the effect that: “ZANU (PF) ‘s fast track land reform programme has been acceptable and will require a comprehensive review and change. The reality is that if the rule of law is restored in Zimbabwe, the new courts will rule in favour of the farmers and holders of private property rights.”

Cross had the nerve to talk about rule of law and property rights, which seem to reduce the issue to who has title deeds, so as to disqualify the African who did not have one when their land and cattle were grabbed from them.

Whilst the statement was attributed to Cross I find it hard to separate MDC from this line of thinking given the position of Cross who holds a National post and speaks party policies on behalf of the party.

Article 6 of the GPA, calls upon all parties to acknowledge the Kariba draft Constitution as the working document and yet on the contrary the MDC has been joining hands with the civic groups to chart a whole new process that is divorced from the GPA agreement.

Article 9.2 states that no outsiders have a right to call or campaign for regime change in Zimbabwe. Ironically the MDC has maintained a close relationship with the western countries, who have vowed that they would not lift all forms of sanctions until there are tangible reforms?

In the same vein Tsvangirai has been hailed as a democratic a nominee of the noble peace prize. His office has been receiving handsome financial assistance and lots of technical support and yet they are not prepared to genuinely assist the majority of Zimbabweans who are suffering

It’s a sad development because colonialism/imperialism has changed its tact but the game remains the same. Instead of direct involvement, they have enlisted the help of political parties in the target countries to do bidding for them.

Despite all the pleasantries that the Prime Minister is quoted to be saying in the press about the GPA and his relationship with the President, why has the West not changed its attitude towards President Mugabe? Why have they not embraced the concept of the GPA, why have sanctions remained if Tsvangirai has genuinely described his relationship with Mugabe as workable and that the GPA was the best deal for them

Some people may call me a doubting Thomas but I would want to believe that all the pleasantries that the Prime Minister has been saying were meant for the press and public relations and yet behind the scenes the regime change agenda has remained alive.

Why do we still have US congressmen still coming for private visits with the Prime Minister and who will pass through the President’s office.

If Tsvangirai has been throwing in a good word for the President and GPA why has the West maintained a negative attitude towards both? Does it mean then that they don’t have faith in Tsvangirai anymore and if yes, why then have they continued to be involved in the MDC activities?

MDC have failed to call upon the governments that are hosting and funding external radio station broadcasting into Zimbabwe to cease but they have instead continued to be hosted on such shows in direct breech of GPA conditions.

The MDC continues to accuse the ZANU (PF) of churning hate speech when they continue to denigrate their union with ZANU (PF) and to distort the person of the head of state and government who has remained as the only Africa cadre to stand up against imperial hegemony.

The MDC has failed to call upon their friends in the United Kingdom to accept the primary responsibility to pay compensation for land acquired from their kith and kin for resettlement.

MDC continues to sing from the same page with the West who are so keen on elections which is why they are contemplating on walking out of government so that elections can be brought forward. However it should also be known to them that no election can be carried out when a country is under sanctions especially when it has been made clear to the electorate that sanctions will be lifted only if the opposition party is elected.

So instead of wasting time trying to make their partner appear like an irresponsible husband the MDC should put more effort in making the GPA work.

People would instead be applauding the MDC, if their disengagement from ZANU (PF) was because they had not moved policies, programmes and strategies to change the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans not because of a delay in the appointment of Bennett to the post of deputy minister when we already have a full cabinet Minister in place.

What MDC needs to know is that there is deep disgruntlement within their supporters, over the failure by the party to achieve its own goals it purported to lay down when it was inaugurated in the GPA.

What have they to show for the eight months they have been in government? The slight economic changes that the country has experienced are a result of the multi currency system introduced by the ZANU (PF) government, during the tenure of Patrick Chinamasa as acting Finance Minister.

The MDC should be known for who they really are, this is the same MDC who will do anything to gain sympathy from running to embassies to safety to all forms of boy cots

But surely they are not as naïve as they would want the rest of the world to believe.