Zimbabwe: Cabinet Deadlock Linked to Fear of Prosecution
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SW Radio Africa (London)
1 October 2008
Posted to the web 2 October 2008
Lance Guma
The fear of prosecution for human rights abuses and looting of state coffers by ZANU PF officials and security chiefs is at the root of the current deadlock over allocation of cabinet ministries. According to a senior official in the MDC, several ZANU PF bigwigs who were responsible for this year's election violence which claimed the lives of over 131 opposition activists are reluctant to have their party concede ministries which have a direct bearing on their prosecution or immunity. In a series of meetings held before and after Mugabe's trip to the United Nations summit, the ZANU PF leader has been warned against conceding the Home Affairs, Justice, Defence and Prison ministries.
Although speculation has often cited other ministries like Foreign Affairs, Finance, Information and Local Government, ZANU PF's desire to cling on to portfolios linked to justice and security remains the critical stumbling block. Other officials implicated in illegal financial, mining and other scandals have also thrown their spanners into the works trying to stifle the deal. Newsreel has been told Gideon Gono who heads the Reserve Bank fears a forensic audit into his tenure as this could expose a lot of irregular dealings. Speculation that Mugabe wants to appoint Gono as Finance Minister has added to suspicions of an elaborate cover-up.
'Not only are we battling thieves who stole money from state coffers, there are those who killed people in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the eighties. Some of these people were at it again in the run-up to the March and June elections this year,' the official told Newsreel. 'Should the MDC take over Home Affairs or even the Justice Ministry, you can see why they are uncomfortable.' While the MDC are prepared to concede the Defence ministry this they say should be reciprocated by their control of the Home Affairs ministry which controls the police. 'In South Africa's first post apartheid government, bitter ANC rival Mangosuthu Buthelezi was appointed Home Affairs minister as a sign of goodwill, why can't Mugabe do the same here?' the official asked.
Meanwhile Newsreel has it on good authority the MDC are insisting on control of the Information, Local Government, Home Affairs and Finance Ministries as the pre-requisites for their involvement in any new cabinet. Under their proposals ZANU PF can retain control of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Mining and Justice ministries among others.
Read comments. Write your own.
Given all your whoaha-gagaga your advice would boil down to asking MDC-T to pull out of the talks and remain outside till things are done the way their pay-masters like. Why does the MDC-T NOT just jump off the moving 'Gvt of Unity' train. MDC may get bruises and bones dislocation as the contraption is moving somewhat fast now. JUMP OFF and let go of any effort to get a ZANU/MDC solution to our problems. At least your supporters would know where you are.
Well said, Prem. For anyone not paying attention, please read the comments above. God Bless Zimbabwe.
The only reason we are supposed to have a GNU is to sort out the economy and the constitution so that we have a free and fair election for a proper government that reflects the people's will. That is what Thabo Mbeki was supposed to deliver. It is clear that Thabo Mbeki really achieved nothing and his immediate ouster may be God's punishment for deceiving the poor and oppressed people of Zimbabwe.
Pray sir, we are going many many many elctions in the long future of our nation, long after the likes of me and you are gone and forgotten. Amen.
Pray sir, we are going to have many many many elections in the long future of our nation, long after the likes of me and you are gone and forgotten. l know time will come for me to go one day. Amen.
I can only hope that South Africa will finally now, under Motlanthe & Zuma, put its foot down and enforce the spirit of the GNU agreement. The last time it drew a line for it's errant neighbour to the north, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in a matter of months, and a fully independent Zimbabwe in less than 2 years. Then SA's motive was immoral: 'detente' - the white regime currying favour with the Frontline states to try reduce their support for the ANC. Now it is the right and moral thing to do because it is for the greater good of… [Read Full Text]
Dream, my dreaming friend. How is South Africa going to force Gt Zimbabwe to follow its instructions ... sending its military??? Forget it. Real politics do not make that a solution. So your wish wont come true. The only way forwrd is for ZANU and MDC-T to compromise and do a bit of give and take, swallow one's pride for the sake of all Zimbabweans. Otherwise the game is going to become very dirty and unpredictable.
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The author assumes wrongly that the MDC's control of certain key ministries would trigger a process to prosecute Mugabe's thugs during the lifespan of the current GNU and it is the pressure on Mugabe from his thugs and cronies that is causing the deadlock on the distribution of the remaining key ministries.
Everybody knows that Tsvangirai signed under duress and for the immediate higher interest of the citizens. His hands are tied over promises he made on pardons. Tsvangirai will respect his signature, but his group will also ensure that there be an immediate stop to the violation of basic… [Read Full Text]