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Wrong question, wrong answer!
Fay Chung, Mail & Guardian (SA)
September 08, 2008

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-09-08-wrong-question-answer

Zimbabweans and the world have been faced with the continuing saga of Zanu-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations in secret negotiations for months. To date they have failed to come up with any agreement for "power-sharing". Power-­sharing to achieve what?

Meanwhile, poor Zimbabweans are suffering from increasing inflation, up from a few hundred thousand percent to 22-million percent since the elections in March and June 2008. The so-called talks seem unable to solve the problems faced by Zimbabwe. It is clear that we are doing the wrong thing: we are trying to share power between two intransigent groups, each interested in a monopoly of power, neither interested in the welfare of the poor of Zimbabwe.

Zanu-PF, in power for the past 28 years, is interested in retaining the levers of patronage, as shown by the "free gifts" bestowed on its supporters, including free tractors (actual price US$47 000 each), free cars (actual price US$37 000 each), free ploughs, free scotch carts, free food, free groceries and money for youths employed to beat up and even kill political opponents. Whenever any "freebies" are needed, there is a simple solution: print the money to buy them.

On the other hand, the MDC is focused on a personality -- Mugabe. Zimbabwe is in ruins because he remains in power and is single-handedly destroying the country. He is depicted as a tyrant, a dictator, a torturer, a murderer. It is not surprising that with such a ­single-minded analysis they cannot come to an agreement with such an individual, whom they definitely do not trust.

Is it not time to recognise that the negotiations pose the wrong questions and therefore are bound to come up with the wrong answers? Even if they came up with some "agreement", how long will it last before the sides start accusing each other, with the usual swear words: "tyrant", "dictator", "torturers", "murderers", "corrupt", "thieves","sell-outs", "imperialist agents" and so on? Will one group start arresting the other (for "treason")? Will their so-called "unity" achieve anything of value?

It would be better if the agreement were centred on some key objectives, and the achievement of them within a specified time frame, so that Zimbabweans can call them to account by measurable indicators.

A few objectives:

• All groups to stop using violent language, which incites anger and hatred of other groups. A system of public censure and fines should be imposed on every political leader using hate speech to incite anger and violence. The press should highlight the use of hatred and violence. Members of Parliament and Senate who use violent language should be suspended after three such crimes. This can be implemented immediately.
• An end to all torture, beatings and killings by any political party. This can also be implemented immediately. Anyone perpetrating such crimes should be prosecuted forthwith.
• An end to the increase of money supply by more than 15% per annum. The arbitrary printing of money should be immediately halted. In fact, the right to print paper money should immediately be removed from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which has been abusing this power. Additional money supply should be linked to foreign-exchange reserves. This should also be implemented immediately, and Parliament should pass a law as soon as it convenes to prevent increase of the money supply by more than 15% per annum. This will bring the rampant inflation under some basic control.
• The new government should ensure that clean water is available to all, as was the case 20 years ago. It should also ensure that electricity is available to industry at least. Priority must be given to water and electricity. Those responsible for water and electricity should be removed if they fail to provide these basics within an agreed period of a few months.
• Seeds, especially for maize, which is a staple food, and fertilizer should be widely available in all shops before the next planting season, which is in two to three months' time. This is an absolute priority: if government neglects this it is neglecting its most basic duty. Instead of spending our precious foreign exchange on luxury goods such as cars for the ruling elite, let it provide farmers with the wherewithal to feed ourselves. This is the bottom line.
• Forex should be provided first and foremost to our industries to enable them to boost productivity. This means the bad habit of undermining our own industries byimporting finished products should be stopped. The practice by which a ministry of industry committee decided on the allocation of foreign exchange for industries should be revived, instead of the present system by which the Reserve Bank can unilaterally allocate forex to itself for quasi-fiscal activities. This is also immediately implementable.
• The government should return to the policy of free primary education for all, as was the case before 1992.
• Zimbabwe's pharmaceutical industries should be facilitated to produce all basic drugs so that hospitals and clinics can be properly stocked.
• Basic infrastructure such as roads, water and sewage pipes and electricity systems should be repaired.
• Work should begin on a new constitution. This should take about 18 months.

Can we have negotiations that ensure that we poor Zimbabweans get these 10 basic needs? Any transitional government should be made responsible for achieving these goals. As a teacher, I propose giving the new government marks every month for each of the 10 objectives. If it consistently fails, we should sack it. Under the present negotiations, it appears the parties are busy sharing posts and privileges while neglecting their fundamental duties. This is my impression, but perhaps it is the wrong impression because everything is being decided under a veil of secrecy.

Are we being fooled again?

*Fay Chung is a former Zimbabwean minister of education

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