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Gono, Tomana must go
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
March 05, 2009

The appointment of Gideon Gono as Reserve Bank Governor and Johannes Tomana as the Attorney General by the president, followed by Mugabe's birthday speech reinforcing his appointments as irreversible have prompted us to issue out this statement. ROHR Zimbabwe wishes to put it on record that it will not support such appointments considering that the two men have presided over the worst economic and political situation in the country, during their reign the country has witnessed the worst human rights record since independence in 1980. Besides the fact that the appointments were not made in consultation with other parties as dictated by the SADC communiqué, these men are not fit to continue holding such public offices.

As a nation in a transition we need to move forward for the benefit of the nation, it then defies logic to note that by appointing Gono and Tomana, Mugabe is only concerned with maintaining his grip on power at the expense of the suffering masses. By reappointing Gono as the RBZ Governor it simply suggests that Mugabe was content with Gono's records of abusing public funds sponsoring terror campaigns and violence prior to the June 27 election runoff. Gono cannot even name corrupt officials in Zanu PF though he admitted that he knows them, can he be the best candidate for that job. During Gono's reign people spend days without accessing their daily withdrawals some sleeping at banks to access the little cash that could not sustain an individual for a mere week.

The unilateral appointment of Gono and Tomana undermines the SADC communiqué issued in Pretoria on the 27th of January and the Global Political Agreement signed by the three political parties Zanu PF and the two MDC formations in September last year. The SADC communiqué unequivocally states that, ''the appointments of the Reserve bank governor and the Attorney general will be dealt with by the inclusive government after its formation''.

Given the outstanding record of incompetence, failure and abuse of office by the two, it defies logic that Robert Mugabe is prepared to defend Gono and Tomana against calls for them to step down. The honorable question one needs to ask is whose interest they are serving, when they have failed the nation.

''Where appointments have been made in accordance with the law, I don't see why they should be reversed. They will not be removed, they are not going anywhere." R Mugabe

Gono's policies have been one of the main drivers of the countries hyperinflation, officially over 230 million percent, but estimated by Rank one an independent organization that analyses world inflation records to be 6.5 quintillion percent. Donor funds are alleged to have disappeared under his watch, including 7.3 million US donated in 2008 by the Global fund to fight AIDS, TB , malaria and purchasing anti-retroviral drugs for Zimbabweans living with HIV and AIDS.

ROHR Zimbabwe further notes with growing concern the role being played by the incumbent Attorney General in invoking the infamous section 121 to incarcerate human rights and political activist granted bail orders. It is on reliable record that Tomana has openly declared his allegiance to Zanu PF, known for openly announcing on state run newspaper that Jestina Mukoko was a threat to national security, Johannes Tomana is by default unfit to be the Attorney General for the simple reason that he is bound to represent his party interest rather than his public office. Tomana is also known for publicly announcing that Jestina Mukoko was a threat to national security when everyone knows that Jestina is innocent.

Tomana, an ardent supporter of President Mugabe has set a wrong precedence of defying court orders as shown in the state's defying a ruling by the SADC Tribunal barring government from proceeding with the unlawful eviction of white farm owners.

It is therefore no coincidence as noted by independent analyst that since 2000 to date and before, Zanu PF has been engaged in human rights abuse including abductions, mass displacements, and imprisonment of political opponents. It is high time we move away from things that isolate our country from the international community but with Gono and Tomana there is no guarantee of a return to the rule of law, respect of human rights, democracy and freedoms that are enshrined in international treaties such as the universal declaration of human rights (UDHR) African Charter on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) and other such treaties.

The recent farm invasions and appointment of senior government officials by Robert Mugabe without consulting his partners to the GPA is further evidence to show that Mugabe is unrepentant and a liability to the people of Zimbabwe.

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