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Unholy matrimony in Zimbabwean politics
Clyde B. Chakupeta
March 17, 2009

'Political matrimony-, like matrimony in the proper sense, is based on sincerity, love and accountability of the partners. There is need to spell out a clear distinction between politics in the broad sense and party politics in Zimbabwe. The recent increase in the number of the members of parliament and the additional ministries bemoans of self aggrandizement motivated by preferential inclusivity for the political leaders. Instead of merging non-essential portfolios, the members create more ministries and extend the parliament numbers. Is this a cost effective measure or the same tune from politicians when they taste the glories of power and comfort? This paper intends to critically analyze the greedy already displayed by the MDC and ZANU (PF) inclusive government. The argument has four premises - the increase in ministries and parliament and the partisan mentality of the inclusive government, political accountability and passing the baton on to others. The Minister of Finance in the 2009 National Budget Revision Statement highlighted the formulation of the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP) meant to retain Zimbabwe to normalcy. The inclusive government seems to have an inclination to establish speculative democracy without praxis. I lay the bare facts.

The number of seats in the House of Assembly rose from 210 to 214. The seats in the Senate increased from 93 to 100 bringing the total number of Parliamentarians to an astronomical 314! This followed the increase in the ministerial posts [31], together with deputy ministers [15] - all 46 increased to fit the definition - inclusive government. The inclusive government-s executive consists of six persons, the president and two vice presidents, the prime minister and two vice prime ministers! This is astronomical. Which other country has this sort of leadership? Is there no duplication of role between the two vice presidents and the two deputy prime ministers? Why not have president and prime minister with one deputy each? There are still notable overlapping ministries, an indication that some ministries were not created for the need, but to accommodate party members, yet they tell us that the government is broke! Absurd gimmicks! MDC is gliding towards the same pitfalls that have swallowed previously the intended 1987 Unity Accord channels and instruments of inclusiveness in Zimbabwe. The trouble with modern man and woman is that give them ultra-modern comfort and they become oblivious to dictatorship. With the large executive, the economically unfriendly cabinet and parliament, that-s a record for a struggling country like Zimbabwe. A few comparisons might help to being out the cosmetic hypocrisy in this government.

The US Obama administration has a total of 16 cabinet posts! If the US with all her immensity in size and population economic power can do with only 16 departments, how come Zimbabwe with less than 10 million need 31 cabinet ministers? The US has 6 more positions that have the status of cabinet rank and these are Council of Economic Advisers, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Management and Budget, United States Trade Representative, United States Ambassador to the United Nations and White House Chief of Staff. The United Kingdom has a total of 25 cabinet posts while populous Nigeria has a total of 37cabinet ministers. Our neighbour, South Africa has a total of 28 cabinet ministers and 19 deputy ministers. The composition of inclusive governments is callous in nature, accommodative in practice and paternalistic in principle.

Recently Kenya got 41 ministers and 52 assistant ministers, bringing a total of 93! This is the largest cabinet in the world. Even developed nations do not have such. What happens to the economy in view of the huge salaries to these ministers and the administration associated with their new offices, personnel, equipment, office etc? Such governments are shaped to accommodate political leaders in management rather than the economic effects this would have on the economy and the least considered ordinary men and women. There is need to define democracy with reference to politics in the broad sense and partisan politics in view of the Zimbabwean and Kenyan inclusive governments.

My second premise is based on the partisan mentality of the MDC and ZANU (PF) in the inclusive government at the expense of the ordinary man and woman. I say so unapologetically as one of the most experienced Zimbabweans in observing and participating in Zimbabwean politics with unlimited unambiguousness. We might denigrate any calls to introspect the projected successes and failures of this government. Lest we forget the same desired 1987 Unity Accord between ZANU and ZAPU. Obviously we know ZAPU was swallowed and when the leaders tasted the good life, they became one with the wolf. MDC might have entered into this pact for the good reasons, but the other player is culprit. Mugabe-s name smells nauseatingly and to join hands with him is bedding the devil. You cannot shake the devil-s hand and say you are just joking or trying to make peace.

The Kenyan and Zimbabwean inclusive governments are a bad precedent for Africa. With such initiatives, Africa will experience the complete disappearance of elections as a way of choosing democratic governments. The incumbent governments would usurp power upon themselves and apply the inclusive cosmetic government like the ridiculous situation in Kenya and Zimbabwe. It is surprising that the African Union has suspended Madagascar from the AU yet has been supportive of the 'illegitimate- inclusive governments of Kenya and Zimbabwe. 'Illegitimate- in that the people-s will is suppressed and the will of the politicians reigns.

The present scenario in Zimbabwe assumes a paradigm shift from the current partisan policies of top-down to down-top. It is a pathetic situation, that the MDC leaders forget their fundamental objective which is to fight alongside the people for the recovery of the people-s stolen victory and humanity, not to 'win the people- to the so-called government-s side. The people remain the victims. It-s a question of homogenous interest.

Thirdly, the patch-work identity and progress adopted by the MDC is disastrous. If there is no Truth, Peace and Reconciliation Commission set, the inclusive government is bound to satisfy only the politicians and leaves the ordinary people grieved and suffering. It is an act of injustice to ignore Gukurahundi, Operation Murambtsvina, victims of the farm invasions, the butchering of political and human right activists and the stage managed deaths from cholera due to inefficiency and Mugabe-s stubbornness. Allegations of torture as well as incidences of alleged misconduct on the part of the Mugabe regime are not trivial matters and if these are not addressed timely and in a proper manner, cast a dark and unsavoury shadow over the entire inclusive government, since an Orwellian impression would be created that some people are more equal than others. To claim to settle peace in Zimbabwe by ignoring all this is just but an act of injustice, be it with MDC or ZANU (PF). Justice is a constitutive dimension for the success of the so called inclusive government. To glorify the inclusive government and silence the people is a farce. We can-t afford to pretend that contradictions of our situations don-t exist. The Minister of Finance in the 2009 National Budget Revision Statement rightly pointed out the immediate need for a "new people driven Constitution and the process of national healing" as important measures to lay the economic foundations for the resumption of growth and social development in Zimbabwe. Sincerity and justice would require admission by perpetrators of injustice before reconciliation can take place.

Fourthly, in as much as the inclusive government might create some relief to the political and economic woes in Zimbabwe, the righting of the moral compass of people like Mugabe is needed. Development cannot happen without humility on the part of those who have ditched Zimbabwe into the present quandary of quagmire. Mugabe and his principles need not only to admit wrong doing, but to exit politics immediately. He seems to lack the knowledge that people serve and come to the end of their service. Lest he has forgotten, we have luminaries in Africa who have done their part and let others carry on. Festus Mohae of Botswana voluntarily stepped down after 10 years in office, Nelson Mandela stepped done after 5 years in office and even afar field as the Caribbean, former Prime Minister in Barbados, Owen Arthur admitted defeat in early 2008 general elections after 13 years. Owen had the audacity to speak boldly in Chamber that he wanted to admit without equivocation or without any reservation to accept full responsibility for everything that was done by any officer, by any cabinet member, by any official, during his time in office. He accepted political responsibility and accountability to the people even if as Prime Minister, pro tempore, did not actually know of some wrong doing. Could Mugabe make such a pronouncement and be accountable to the people of Zimbabwe? Without accountability, the inclusive government is a farce which inevitably would degenerate into paternalistic manipulation of the ordinary people.

Finally, a new Zimbabwe needs unity, racial equality, reconciliation, fairness, accountability, transparency, good governance and political stability. Democracy and Governance are no longer pocketbook issues of partisan politics, but moral issues and intellectual issues, subject to moral imperatives and moral absolutes. Among the strong points of the Catholic Social Teaching are its humanitarian characteristics, its practical emphasis on participation and solidarity, its refusal to become identified with any political party - it identifies structures of sin. Mugabe is such one sin that we should never cease to point at. Whether the inclusive government becomes successful or not, the fact remains - the people-s will was suppressed. In principle and practice, without a stable and transparency government, development won-t happen or rather can-t happen. Do I sound cynical? Maybe.

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