No news is good news – usually!
Does anyone know what’s really going on in Zimbabwe? We somehow doubt it. The reason is that the press has been muzzled as talks on the country’s so-called power sharing deal take place behind closed doors. We’re not sure who instigated the news blackout;
The king of obfuscation
It’s impossible to get any details from the participating parties. Mbeki remains adamant that his policy of quiet diplomacy has led to the progress made in Zimbabwe thus far. But if we pause for a moment to reflect on that progress we’re left wondering whether ‘progress’ is the appropriate term to use. Quiet diplomacy resulted in a 29 March election which could hardly be described as ‘free and fair’. There was no comment from the quiet diplomats when Mugabe’s party refused to accept the results of the first round of voting. And there was not a sound when Tsvangirai was forced to pull out of the presidential run-off due to unacceptable levels of political violence in the days preceding the vote.
Mbeki seems blissfully unaware that one of the three parties in the power sharing talks is opposed to his continued role as mediator in the talks. He doesn’t seem concerned that Mugabe is cutting the people’s choice from the final solution, preferring instead to barter with the third party in the power sharing structure – a breakaway faction of the MDC that holds only 10 seats in Zimbabwe’s parliament. And he’s made no comment on Tsvangirai’s latest appeal to SADC for help…
From the outside it looks like the power sharing talks have either stalled, or will result in a totally unsatisfactory political solution. Yet Mbeki’s only comment on the matter is this: Tsvangirai “needs a bit more time to reflect” on the proposal. And Mbeki remains confident a solution will be found. Earlier this week he told journalists that he was “quite certain that all of the parties are determined to find a solution!”
Typical Zimbabwe state media drivel
Why is Tsvangirai singled out as the ‘sticking’ point? The only way to answer this question is to dip into the tainted state-owned Zimbabwe newspaper, The Herald. The newspaper alleges that Tsvangirai is raising objections to the power sharing structure on the instruction of a Western embassy. And in a shocking disrespect for the overall media curtain on talks they were able to reveal that Mugabe had already agreed to a power sharing deal with Arthur Mutambura, head of the breakaway opposition MDC faction mentioned earlier. It would be an absolute affront to democracy if Mugabe were allowed to structure a deal with this minority group and emerge victorious, at the head of the strongest faction in a restructured Zimbabwe. But that seems to be what’s happening.
As to what the ‘sticking’ point is – that’s anyone’s guess. There’s been speculation that Zanu-PF wants control of the military and police in the new political dispensation. They are said to be doing anything possible to retain power of the police and army generals in the notorious Joint Operational Command. It’s also alleged that Mugabe wants to keep the Land portfolio, to continue the country’s aggressive land reform programme.
We’re a trifle concerned with some of these revelations. The events playing out behind closed doors in Harare sound more like power struggle than power share. When the smoke settles we’re going to have two rival factions in a divided parliament. And that’s not going to be good for the people of Zimbabwe.
Fighting for something you’ve already won
You have to feel some sympathy for the MDC leader. He won the first round of elections despite every effort of Mugabe’s Zanu-PF to rig the results. He would, in all likelihood have won the presidential run-off too; but was forced to pull out of the race as Mugabe’s hoods intensified their campaign of political intimidation in the run-up to the election. This allowed Mugabe to be sworn in as the people’s elected president for another term. Of course it didn’t change the fact that the MDC held 100 seats in parliament – ahead of Zanu-PF with 99 and the Mutambura MDC faction with 10. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith hits the nail on the head. He recently told Sky News that “any so-called government of national unity which did not involve Tsvangirai would effectively be a farce!”
For a brief moment Zimbabwe looked ready to shake off the Mugabe legacy and get on with the process of rebuilding their country. But it’s not to be. The continued intervention of the world’s greatest quiet diplomat will ensure that Mugabe holds power for another five years. He’s ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist since it gained independence from Britain in 1980. He’s destroyed one of the best agricultural economies in Africa – ensured that 80% of his citizens have no jobs – and helped inflation into six digit territory. He may as well stay the course and finish the job.
Editor’s thoughts:
The purpose of a ‘free and fair’ democratic election is to allow the people an opportunity to express their will. Elections in Zimbabwe were anything but ‘free and fair’ yet the people still expressed a desire to sideline Mugabe and give a new leader a chance to steer the ship. But their choice has been ignored. Do you think a fair solution will emerge from Zimbabwe’s current power-sharing talks? Add your comments below, or send them to [email protected]
