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Mugabe appoints a war cabinet, excludes youth
Youth Forum
February 13, 2009

Mugabe has retained a war cabinet despite his earlier utterance, that it has been the worst cabinet in his reign, in an interview, on the eve of his birthday last year. Majority of his ministers have been at war with the opposition MDC since its birth, hence there is reasonable suspicion that he wants to continue with his war path with his 'former' rival. Taking new blood on board would have distorted the rhythm of the struggle which has been temporarily disturbed as a result of pressure from the international community to work with MDC, which for the entirety of its existence has been referred as a Western oriented party. The speed with which the economy was dwindling equally forced the regime to compromise. The solution was only left in the hands of MDC, especially the T one. It is therefore crystal clear that Mugabe and his party were raped into this 'agreement'.

The appointed ministers are cognisant of the fact that they have been rewarded for their persistence in fighting the 'West in its bid to effect regime change'. Bearing this in mind the only logical thing to do in terms of protecting their mercs is to maintain the status core, the main agenda being to 'pressurise Morgan to call for the lifting of sanctions and work hard for the party'.

The mammoth task is to revive the party, considering that elections are at hand. These ministers boast of having wealth experience in tackling their duties and it is most likely going to be difficult for them to accept new ideas from the new blood which has been injected on MDC tickets hence friction is more likely than not. Considering the irreconcilable differences between the parties in government, it will be the greatest miracle in world politics for them to just accept or tolerate each other.

Some are basking in the March 29 glory whilst others are convinced that June 27 did the job, whilst others do not give significance to any of the two. The only common thing to the three parties is to maintain power till the next election scheduled for two years from now.

From a political point of view if this government thrives, credit will go to MDC T given the fact that it was their entrance which would have ushered in the much awaited change; it will therefore be the most difficult thing for ZANU PF to just watch their power vanish into thin air. That is the reason why it is normally suggested that a transitional government must not be run by interested parties.

Further to these anomalies The Youth Forum is greatly concerned with the seclusion of youths in cabinet. This shows that from the onset the youths have not been considered to be decision makers, they are some who have the experience to do so on their behalf. Such thinking is retrogressive, discouraging and disgracing to youth's meaningful participation and empowerment. This shows that the youths are only instrumental as rubberstampers of decisions made on their behalf.

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