THE Minister of Information and Publicity has hit back at President Robert Mugabe’s critics who accused him of ‘selling out’ by entering into a power-sharing deal with the two opposition Movement for Democratic Change formations.
Calling on all Zimbabweans to put national interest ahead of their own, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, who is also a Zanu PF Politburo member, told The Chronicle newspaper: “I want to dispell all unfortunate or misdirected statements to the effect that this negotiated settlement is a way of selling out.”
He added that a lot of work and effort had been put into the power-sharing arrangement which was facilitated by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.
“It is unfortunate that people can make such statements when there was a lot of work that went into coming up with that agreement brokered by Mr Mbeki, who was sincere and patient to the wishes of Zimbabweans,” he said.
Dr Ndlovu also attacked members of the Zanu PF party who had either defected or did not campaign vigorously to win the harmonised March 29 election which saw the opposition MDC-T party gaining a slim majority in Parliament.
“If the truth be told, the biggest sellout is the one who did not make the party win. If we had a clear majority in Parliament we would not have to be placed in such an embarrassing situation, which President Mugabe has alluded to before. We should have gotten the vote to avoid this excruciating arrangement.’’
The minister said the deal was predicated on national, not individual or sectoral interests and individuals should refrain from looking at what position(s) they will get from the deal.
“People should not look at themselves and say what position will I get or not get out of the powers-haring deal. They should bear in mind that this deal is in the national interest in the same manner that the Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu PF in 1987 was.
Dr Ndlovu reminded people that he was a member of PF Zapu’s Central Committee before the 1987 Unity and did not immediately get a post – in the Central Committee or in Government – soon after the signing of the Accord. He said revolutionaries are selfless and focus on the good of the people.
“Some of us were members of the Central Committee of PF Zapu before the Unity Accord of 1987 but we were not negotiating for our own positions. After the merger, we had no positions in the Central Committee let alone in Government,” he said.
“A true revolutionary is selfless and always wants to see that something good is done for the people not himself or herself.”
The veteran politician also attacked critics within the ruling Zanu PF party and media organisations that are saying the new power-sharing arrangement negated the 1987 Unity Accord and said their voices were too late because the deal had already been brokered. He said they should have aired their sentiments before the 9/11 signing of the power-sharing deal between Zanu PF and the two formations of the MDC.
“We cannot lose sight of the Unity Accord of 1987 and those who are disgruntled should have been trying to influence the negotiations while they were going on and not to make statements on the sidelines now.
“We could not deliver the votes, contribute more MPs as this would even have strengthened the unity but at the same time this is not to say we should forget about the Unity Accord because people from the region did not vote for Zanu PF.
“We have to strengthen the unity bequeathed to us by the likes of Dr Joshua Nkomo and he warned us not to throw it away. I am happy to say President Mugabe is committed to that unity,” said Dr Ndlovu.
He said the power-sharing arrangement did not mean that the parties had lost their individual ideologies and identities
“We remain separate entities. That is why we need the party to be strong and are busy involved in the restructuring of our party Zanu PF, which is the party of the past, the present and the future. The party must be strong and focused.”
This statement was in line with the current exercise of restructuring the Zanu PF party in the BulawayoProvince which he is heading together with senior Zanu PF officials from the region.
The Information minister also hit at the US for maintaining a sanctions regime on Zimbabwe that is hurting the ordinary population, and said both foreigners and Zimbabweans alike should respect the sovereignty of our country. He said the negotiated political settlement should not compromise Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.
“Even though we have a deal, we cannot compromise for instance on the sovereignty of our nation.
“That is why for instance, I want to urge the United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr James McGee, to concentrate on talking about the financial problems afflicting his country and let Zimbabweans decide their destiny.
“Zimbabweans should ignore his sentiments on the United States not lifting sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and concentrate on productivity as we are starting a farming season now.”
melusi • melunkomo@yahoo.com Subject: n/a Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:49:19 • Who is this Ndlovu you are talking about...Us the people of Mpopoma and Mat'land do not know him...Is he still a minister? For what?
n/a • n/a Subject: Deadlock Breaker!!!!!!!! Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:02:45 • In order to help the negotiators break the current deadlock, I propose a unique arrangement that mantains the 50-50 deal. It is very important to honour the deal in its entirety and the parties must be wary at this stage of ammendmends. This might include the issue of byelections. At this stage, much focus must be made of fostering peace and achieving economic prosperity. Therefore to allow byeelections would amount to opening up ways of spicing up divisions where healing should be a priority after the Violence that occured. The deal was presented to the world on the 15th of September amid significant African leaders and they should thus be wary of amending or dishonouring it. I therefore present this proposal to break the deadlock:-
Since the deal is 50-50, security of citizens is a major concern and therefore the ministries of defence/home affairs must be split between the two. How can you do this though and mantain at the same time the 1987 agreeement that allocated the Home Affairs part to former PF-Zapu as part of the peace agreement after Gukurahundi. Well, what can be done is for the MDC to find among its rank a person from Matebeleland (former Zapu) who was affected by this Gukurahundi to take up the portfolio like Sipepa or someone else. This person obviously qualifies under the 1987 deal. Mind you it was not a 2008 deal. Zanu would then have to convince its Zapu ranks to accept this as a means of breaking the deadlock, eitherway they were all part of Nkomo's party at one time or the other and the key thing is to achieve peace than to satisfy a few people.
This is just my suggestion is people are free to jugde it anyhow. Let's believe though that the deal will succeed.
Early Times • isaac_1212@hotmail.com Subject: Uncertainty Coming from Zimbabwe Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:27:33 • Very interesting, some global similarities! A headline from a newspaper at a local supermarket read BAILOUT BREEDS UNCERTAINTY. With less confident news coming from Zimbabwe these post March 29 days, some watchers merely changed bailout to read power sharing.
Whatever became of that confident, I'll go my way by myself Zimbabwe of pre March 29?
Continued good wishes as Zim goes through what seems to be mounting parlous, never ending discussions!
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots! Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:47:19 • Dr Ndlovu is a true Zim Patriot and a wise leader. And other Zim Patriots will heed his call to ensure Self-determination, Self-development, Self-reliance and Self-sufficiency for Zinbabwe and for all of Africa.
Magnanimous Mugabe, African Hero, could no more sell out Zimbabweans than he could sell out his own mother.
Zim Patriots need to redouble their efforts in support of ZANU-PF, In this way Mugabe and other Zim Patriots do not have to sit down and make devilish deals with the traitors who are Mentally Deluded by Colonialists (MDC)
As for that lost child, the self-hating and devil-worshiping ambassador of the racist USA, he is just exercising powers that the white people would never allow him to exercise at home.
His days are numbered. And he will be made to regret still acting as slave and servant of evil racist in this 21st Century.
During the War for Liberation against the criminal invaders, Zim Patriots have overcome worse self-hating traitors than the lost and asinine ambassador of the racist USA
So he too shall pass. Only Zim Patriots should speed his passing from Zimbabwe.
mkrice • n/a Subject: Fully Bellies Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:57:52 • Ndlovu also has a full tank of petrol for his 4x4s Mercs etc parked on his drive behind electric gates with guards patrolling the grounds to stop the povos, a 3 course meal washed down by a fully bodied Mukuyu or a Nederburg, can afford medical care outside Zimbabwe. McGee has not been in Zim since Independence and he is not an attribute to the zimbabwe situation. Yes he can leave today but will that change what is going on? Let not bark at the wrong tree even Ndlovu shows his shallow mindedness in saying McGee should go to concentrate on talking about the financial problems afflicting his country and let Zimbabweans decide their destiny. Those American financial problems are not an American problem alone for Zimbabwe it is annihilation as our own financial system went to the dogs a longtime ago. As for Destiny I think our when Mugabe dies Many Zims will die with him not because their time is up but because they we were robbed of that as well.
CLARABELLA, MANCHESTER • na. Subject: HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVE. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:45:12 • Why should McGee leave? Why should he even want to?
I will bet my last Zim Dollar that McGee and his entourage sits down to three exquisite meals daily - and he is certainly not starving in our beautiful land. Oh, and I'll bet he has a full tank of petrol in all his vehicles parked out there on the sunny forecourt.
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