THE Movement for Democratic Change party has snubbed a call by President Robert Mugabe to submit names for Cabinet posts saying they “cannot be invited to be passengers in a vehicle we are co-driving.”
The snub follows on the heels of allegations that MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai wanted to open up new areas of discussion at the full Sadc summit on Sunday after he had previously accepted a communiqué issued by the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security which concluded that the only sticking point in the power-sharing arrangement was the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to sources in the Zanu PF party who are privy to the power-sharing talks, the MDC leader wanted new issues tabled although two weeks earlier he had agreed to sign the Sadc Troika’s communiqué detailing the status of the talks.
The communiqué was issued after the Extra-ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika of Heads of State and Government which met in Harare on October, 27 2008.
The MDC-T party also did not refute or dismiss the comments made by Sadc Executive Secretary Tomas Salamao after that summit in which he said the disagreement between the ruling Zanu PF party and the two factions of the MDC had been narrowed down to who should control the Home Affairs ministry.
Salamao, at the time said that there was now "tacit agreement" over the other ministries that had been in question – Finance, Foreign Affairs, Local Government and Justice. He gave no details of this agreement. This statement was also not refuted by the MDC leader.
“(Morgan) Tsvangirai appended his signature to a Troika communiqué two weeks ago, which was handed over to the full Sadc summit yesterday (Sunday) in which he agreed that the only sticking point left to be discussed was the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs,” said our insider source.
“The leaders of Sadc were working on a brief by the Troika and were unprepared to reopen discussions that had been exhausted in the Troika meeting,” added our source.
Our source also said it was practically impossible for a full Sadc summit to discuss the ‘finer details’ of the power-sharing agreement. The regional body only discusses issues of ‘broader policy’.
The MDC-T spokesman, Nelson Chamisa said that his party will not nominate any individuals for ministerial posts.
President Mugabe invited Tsvangirai to submit the list of ministers from his party so that he could go ahead with the process of forming a Cabinet, following recommendations by the Extra-Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government in Sandton, South Africa, over the weekend, that the inclusive Government be established urgently.
Asked whether the MDC-T party will be submitting names, Chamisa said: “"I think that invitation has not come. We cannot be invited to be passengers in a vehicle we are co-driving.”
Chamisa also said the MDC-T national executive will meet on Friday to decide the way forward, but the party has already indicated that the talks should be referred to the African Union.
"Sadc has no final say. There are two guarantors (in the September 15 political settlement): Sadc and the AU. If Sadc cannot handle it, we still have other African institutions.”.
Although, there are two guarantors to the agreement, Chamisa also said the matter could be referred to the United Nations. “In the event we are not satisfied, there is still the AU and the UN," he said.
"The MDC national executive and the national council, the party’s supreme decision-making bodies, will meet this week to deliberate on the outcome of the extraordinary Sadc summit meeting held in Sandton, South Africa," said Chamisa.
He added that they will meet “to deliberate on the Sadc summit and the future of the dialogue process.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity, Bright Matonga said the MDC was deliberately holding the country at ransom.
He pointed out that the idea of sharing the Ministry of Home Affairs was originally suggested by the MDC party.
Professor Arthur Mutambara was said to have mooted that idea last month and Zanu PF had expressed reservations over continuity of policy implementation if the ministry was rotated. The MDC-T party had welcomed the idea at the time.
According to Matonga the MDC “signed the MoU. They are the ones who requested that the matter be referred to Sadc. It was also their proposal that the Ministry of Home Affairs be co-chaired and Sadc made a ruling in their favour.”
Matonga added: “If they are not interested, I do not see why there cannot be a Government. They will never hold this country to ransom.”
n/a • tariromad_85@yahoo.co.uk Subject: manyowa....uri manyowa chaiwo Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:54:13 • vehicle without direction????.. the vehicle is not moving yet..and the vehicle doesn't know any direction anyway until you get into it and start driving..any if the driver dosent know where to go ..then you can give him directions... you are missing the point you can say what you, but the plain truth is MDC has a better chance of changing things gradually from inside...NYIKA IYI HAVAFI VAKAITONGA VAKARAMBA VANE DIRECTION YAVO....musafe makazvinyepera...even if they take up guns the end result will be they will negotiate at the end....that is if they are alive....YOU THINK ZANU HAIZVIZIVI IZVOZVO....HANZI HEE CHITONGA TIONE..hezvo gore dha...nyika isina cabinet ne parliament....lol lol
manyowa • tmanyowa@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Yo stuff is the worst Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:32:28 • Let Chamisa stay out than jumping into a vehicle without direction. Who are you anyway? U seem to be the one driving it right now.
N/A • tariromad_85@yahoo.co.uk Subject: jump into the combi Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:23:19 • CO-DRIVING KUDI KO IWE.... CHAMISA...wakamboona mota ine masteering wheel two...there can only be one driver at a time...get into the vehicle your turn to drive will come..if you dont want to get in the vehicle those who get in will end up driving...muripanze ipapo....you can supervise the driver better when you are in the car than out.....HAIKONA KUNGORUTSA TUMA PHRASE TUSINGA REVI CHINHU......
N/A • N/A Subject: New govt Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:24:07 • Mhofeti and Fletcher are correct in their analyses.Tsvangirai cannot make a decision without tangible evidence to his backers that he can deliver the land and minerals of Zim to be exploited by the West. Without that, he has nothing to show as evidence of return on investment to his backers. Tsvangirai's demands are also not going to put food on the table for Zims and alleviate their problems. The needs of the Zim people are way done the priority list of MDC-T and its leadership.
The unsavoury fact that some Zim still support MDC-T, is a well known psychological condition where the oppressed feel that their oppressors are the way to salvation. Hostages display the same psychological attachment to those who have taken them hostage. MDC-T did not call or support the sanctions against Zim in a vacuum. The party knew that the sanctions will have a psychological effect on the targeted community. MDC-T also knew that without balance of payment support and lines of credit (a result of sanctions), the govt of Zim would find it difficult to meet the needs of its citizens.
What a cynical manipulation of the electorate. MDC-T is playing mind games with the people of Zim.Tsvangirai has failed to unite the country. No amount of promotion by the West, the likes of Jon Jones ,Ainos and Melusi can change that fact. A polarised and divided nation is very difficult to govern and Tsvangirai should take his que from Ian Smith.
As for Alistair Budd's assertion that the Africans wanted African solutions to African problems and should get on with it. Damn right , we want the prerogative of being able to chart our own destiny. The West is meddling in the internal affairs of Zim.Why doesn't the West remove the sanctions so that we can have viable African solutions? As for Jones's insinuation that MDC-T is the party in power and Zanu-PF, the opposition.What kind of hogwash is that? Tsvangirai chickened out of the run-off and has no legitimacy. As for the March election anyone who subscribe to the notion that the elections were free and fair is deluded.How can any election be deemed free and fair where the electorate has been starved into submission? What kind of democracy is that?
That election was a de-facto coup organised along the lines of the Ukrainean orange revolution where people were bribed to throw away the election in MDC-T's favour. How much foreign currency.food, mobile phones and other fancy goods were provided to bribe the electorate? Zims are freely taking about what really happened.
Disgruntled Rhodies were all stationed in neighbouring countries ready to feast on the dead carcass. The bones of Nehanda (that glorious Zim woman Freedom Fighter hanged by the colonialists), rattled and rose and the rest is history.
Those who do not understand the mysteries of Africa are bound to fail.
Mhofeti • pasizw@yahoo.co.uk Subject: MDC on cabinet Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:18:00 • Jon Jones do you know why Zanu PF under the current talks was given 15 cabinet posts and MDC 13 when they actually got more paliamentary seats? Calling president Mugabe Mr, Cde or just Bob is majoring on minors reflecting a detest of his person not policy. Calling MDC the ruling party and Zanu PF the opposition won't relieve the suffering people of Zimbabwe from their crisis. The march harmonized elections were declared as free and fair evidenced by how well the opposition fared. No matter how much you try to prop up Tsvangirai he's no better than Mugabe because he can't be bothered to change the suffering of people that he is in a position to change. How much must it cost Zimbabweans to have a deal that suits Tsvangirai and his donor friends?
N/A • N/A Subject: Agreement Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:26:45 • Tsvangirai will remain obdurate. Britan has a whole dossier on all the dodgy deals he signed with his masters to sell and destroy his very own country. If Britain chooses to expose him he will be finished. This is what is hanging over Tsvangirais head. He fears exposure more than anything else. His fate was sealed when he signed the Faustian pact with Britain and cashed the first of the many, many fat cheques that enterred his post box. Zimbabweans should by now have realised that sanctions will never be removed. Tsavingirai is not a solution but a problem. Britain has instructed him to remain steadfast in his obdurate behaviour. Sanctions are all that Britain has now.
Jon Jones • fearonjones@hotmail.com Subject: n/a Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:20:29 • The amazing thing to me is that much of Mugabe’s ‘despised’ western media continue to peddle the fiction that Mugabe is President of Zimbabwe and MDC are the opposition. I just wrote the following to the BBC, having spotted the introduction to one of their reports below- ——-
“Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party has called on President Robert Mugabe to form a new government quickly, despite protests by opposition leaders.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7725548.stm accessed at 9.25 am Beijing time)
“With regard to reporting of the situation in Zimbabwe it would be good if the BBC, and other news sources, could get their facts and consequent language correct. Mr Mugabe may be self-styled President, but the majority of Zimbabweans would prefer to refer to him simply as Mr Mugabe, not President Mugabe. His title follows an election which was roundly condemned as being unfair, involving violence and intimidation against the MDC.
In addition, referring to the MDC as the party of opposition is a misnomer. The election which saw the MDC groups gain a majority in the Parliament, was the only election that was, whilst not perfect, accepted as having produced a result closest to the wishes of the majority of Zimbabweans. As such it is in fact Zanu PF which are the party of opposition now – it is only a fact that they have not accepted that this is the case. Continuing to pander to Mr Mugabe’s and Zanu PF’s falsehoods does the Zimbabwean people no service, only serving to assist in prolonging the agonies of that long-suffering population.”
As to how to get out of this self-inflicted mess, it may be that the only answer now is for MDC to form a government under the woefully inadequate SADC recommendation, and try to build from within. How possible that is given all the bitterness and intransigence is hard to see.. The alternatives however are indeed stark, and could lead to a total breakdown in not only Zimbabwe but also the rest of Southern Africa, where the disease of intolerance and xenophobia is already spreading.
Jairos Tapfuma • cdetapfuma@yahoo.com Subject: let us move on! Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:45:32 • Some people can say what they want because just like Tsvangirai, they are also feeding from the same westerners. We all know where Morgan's grocery comes from. Therefore he has no pressure on him. He is not worried by the hunger grappling his own brothers because he promised them that kana vaishaya chikafu vaizochishaisisa. Morgan is only fulfilling the wishes and plans of James McGee and company.
He is not his own man. Can we therefore wait for such a person? Sanctions he called for will not be removed unless we have a puppet leader in the form of Morgan. Because of that i do not see why we should wait for Morgan. Let us form a government and move on.
Not all countries in the world are hard-hearted like Britain. Not only Britain and America can as well give us aid...and not only aid can lift us from the mess we are in. Let us work hard as a nation and deal with corruption because corruption is like sell outs in the Chimurenga war!
Morgan is looking for war...and he can get it if he wants it.
Alisdair Budd • airbud@tiscali.co.uk Subject: ????? Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:31:06 • You wanted an African Solutrion to an African Problem.
Well, let's see the African Countries pay for what they decided and put their money where their mouth is and see what happens.
Ainos • ainos@yahoo.com Subject: Patrick Fletcher:Point of CORRECTION Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:29:37 • Fletcher i dont think you are using sound judgement when you make such an ignoramus comment.How can Mugabe give tight deadlines to Morgan...On what capacity..Dont you think its actually the other way round. Morgan has more constituencies than baba Chatunga, he is representing more Zimbabwean citizens. This should transcends to power sharing....One with bigger representation must have more power in Cabinet sharing deals....This is purely common sense my brother...
Lets be very honest and open to each other guys... people are dying ...Ropa risina mhaka riri kudeuka....zvazotirwadza usiku ne masikati...
The so called talks are not solving anything....Zim needs a complete transformation my friends and this is now an international crisis...
The only viable alternative is to have fresh and globally supervised elections....
Even if Robert can go ahead in dictating cabinet thing,,,,the ship will still sink down to the ratchet....He cant handle this anymore....
Lets be very honest when discussing Zim matters boyz rangu....Maybe some of us are commenting from Diaspora and you have no appreciation of the things on the ground.....
Varume, ngatibudiranei pachena for the sake of the blood that we are losing in this wonderful nation....
God bless Zimbabwe
Patrick Fletcher • hajray@gmail.com Subject: 'MDC will not submit names for Cabinet' Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:52:10 • President Mugabe needs to bring this to a closure, he is giving Tsvangirai too much play. What President Mugabe needs to do is set a two weeks deadline for all cabinet post to be filled, irrespective of Tsvangirai people being on board or not. He can't continue like this without setting a firm deadline, otherwise Tsvangirai will keeping changing position and making new demands.
tsholotsho guy • N/A Subject: Zim Cabinet Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:22:30 • Let's just be wise enough to say this isn't working. New elections supervised by both the SADC and UN is what the country desperately needs.
melusi • melunkomo@yahoo.com Subject: n/a Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:21:32 • ENOUGH RESPECT ON YOU TSWANGIRAYI...STAND ON YOUR GUARD..DO NOT WAVER AND LET MGABE DISTROY HIMSELF...DO NOT BE DUPED LIKE MY UNCLE NKOMO, WHO DIED A MISERABLE MAN!!
Changamire Dombo • ChangamireDombo@rocketmail.com Subject: What Else? Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:09:39 • Tell me what else MT won't boycott!
He is too immature, highly irresponsible, overwhelmingly selfish and unintelligent to become The Leader he dreams of.
How on Earth did he sign a tripartite deal that he now confesses is inadequate for his involvement. If you sign a dud you are a criminal and those lawyers around him should educate and advise him accordingly.
That he is failing to get there by self-inflicted means is evidence enough of his incapability, He has utterly abd dismally failed to answer opportunity's knock at his door.
JM • n/a Subject: GO ON Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:32:41 • Zanu have no intention of ever sharing power.......they should just carry on as they have been doing for the last 28 years........Zim is in ruins and the MDC should just sit back relax pull out of this stupid unity agreement and wait for Zanu to break up as this will surely happen...........let Mugabe and his gang fall because if you live by the sword you die by the sword...........this game involves patience.........SO GO ZANU FORM YOUR GOVERNMENT AND LET US SEE HOW FAR YOU WILL GO AND WHO WILL HELP YOU.....
Faraway • zim.crisis@gmail.com Subject: Let Mugabe do it his way Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:08:10 • I don't what the fuss is about. Everybody knows the unity deal is the biggest farce invented by Mbeki for the benefit of his close buddy to make him look good in the eyes of the world. Mugabe will do whatever the hell he wants, unity deal or no unity deal. And if he doesn't get his way, he'll use other methods.
Therefore it's best to just form his government, and wait till his party disintegrates into total chaos because they have shown that they are just not capable of managing Zimabawe.
chimurenga • zimbabwejohn@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Do we have another Lobengula here....... Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:12:32 • No disrespect but do we have a modern day Lobengula here (in Tsvangirai) who jsut appends his signature to documents he doesn't understand.......lol
Nzwalababuya • Nzwalababuya@yahoo.co.uk Subject: painful Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:31:35 • i wonder if Mugabe and Tsvangarai will ever agree on anything? i think even if a govt of national unity is formed, these will turn the zim parliament into a wrestling ground, charactarised by back stabbing, romour mongering, and endless conflicts. my own thinking is that fresh elections must be held. this unity govt will take zim to worse. no two bull can stay in one kraal!!! but i pray peace be with you Zim!!!
Tisu Vatongi • tisu@hotmail.com Subject: MDC - Zvituta Zvevanhu Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:11:57 • A Government will be formed, and it will be better without the MDC.
One wonders where the MDC will end with their antics of manyemwe ekuviga hembe dzaamai vavo vachigeza parukova.
MDC ... you are in a cul de sac...I dare say Check Mate.
Obama will not invade Zimbabwe and Brown is a toothless British Bulldog!
The AU will not oppose SADC in favor of MDC...
Pachatofamunhu Chete! • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:11:48 • Zanu(PF)'s patience with this bunch of daft rapscallions and political sellouts is beginning to make me a bit frayed at the edges! This lot (MDC) will never let up on their demands until they are nicely ensconced in State House! Which makes me very worried indeed as to how revolutionaries who prosecuted a liberation war with such distinction can now fail to sort out this mess of a Tsvangirai! What happened to sellouts during the war? Cant this man be taken out and let the West scream to their hearts content but knowing fully well that any attempt to invade us will be brutally resisted and repulsed. In Lebanon they took out the sellout Hariri and what did they do about it? We are suffering in this country due to one man and what does our enlightened leadership do other than to bend over backwards and get f-cked by this uneducated power hungry western backed sellout! If Mugabe has got old then he should make way for another firebrand within Zanu(PF) and when that happens we do not want one who will start talking to the west! We want one who will continue from where a tired Mugabe would have left off and one who will deal with this national sellout once and for all! Shoot the bugger and lets move on as the sanctions will never be removed unless we are recolonised. Death is the language that Tsvangson and his masters can only understand! We are suffering here because of him yet his family and those of his cronies are safe and bellyful abroad being looked after by the same people who want to turn us into slaves. Is it that Mugabe is now surrounded by cowering intellectuals who have no guts to say ''now lets take this idiot out and we will face the consequences'' just like they took out those two Rhodesian planes, the petrol tanks, Rhodesian army and militias! Give us a break and lets move on without this c**p!
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