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Inclusive government - Index of articles
Tsvangirai
walks the tightrope
Jason Moyo,
Mail & Guardian (SA)
August 14, 2009
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-08-14-tsvangirai-walks-the-tightrope
Morgan Tsvangirai
could finally be winning over Zimbabwe's hardline army generals,
but he may have to risk this new-found détente by proposing
army reforms and pressing for the names of the killers of hundreds
of his supporters to be published.
On the eve of the past
two presidential elections, the army top brass publicly vowed never
to salute Tsvangirai even if he won the poll. Although none of them
publicly commented on the unity government, they were widely viewed
as "residual elements" -- Tsvangirai's phrase -- opposed
to reform.
But on Tuesday, in a
packed stadium to mark Defence Forces Day, Tsvangirai finally got
his salute from the generals.
A meeting between Tsvangirai
and the army top brass late last month had "broken the ice"
and the army generals now recognise the prime minister, his spokesperson,
James Maridadi, said on Tuesday.
"We hope this marks
the beginning of a good working relationship," Maridadi said.
President Robert Mugabe
said his generals were behind the unity government: "The defence
forces support the inclusive government, because it was born out
of the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe, whom the soldiers serve
every day in their course of duty."
But Tsvangirai now faces
a dilemma; a plan to reform the defence forces may reverse the progress
he appears to have made in reaching out to the powerful military.
The Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC) has put forward new proposals it says will increase
the independence of the security forces. It wants an "overhaul"
of the military, according to spokesperson Nelson Chamisa, "so
that they serve the interests of the nation above those of any political
party".
Under the proposal, the
defence forces commission, which oversees appointments to senior
army positions, would be "overhauled so that a new board with
independent and qualified members be appointed in consultation with
commanders of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
It should be the responsibility of this commission to review and
oversee senior appointments and promotions, as well as general working
conditions and salaries of all personnel."
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