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MDC sets deadline for resolution of outstanding issues
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
May 06, 2009

The MDC has set next Monday as the deadline for the resolution of all outstanding issues, MDC secretary-general, Hon. Tendai Biti has said.

Addressing a press conference at the party's headquarters at Harvest House in Harare today, Hon. Biti said if the outstanding issues were not resolved by Monday, the party would refer the issue to the party's supreme making decision body, the National Council, which will meet on 17 May 2009.

He said the outstanding issues that remained unresolved were the appointment of provincial governors, permanent secretaries, ambassadors, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and the Attorney-General, Johannes Tomana.

He said the appointments of Gono and Tomana were unprocedural in that they were executive appointments done after the signing of the GPA, which states that such appointments must be done following an agreement by the principals.

Also of concern to the MDC was the refusal by Robert Mugabe to swear in MDC treasurer-general, Hon. Roy Bennett as the deputy Minister of Agriculture and the unilateral grabbing of ministerial portfolios by Mugabe.

Hon Biti said Bennett was innocent until proven guilty. He said according to the GPA, which was now part of the Constitution of Zimbabwe; Mugabe had no powers to refuse to swear-in Bennett after being nominated by his party. The MDC secretary-general urged the deputy-minister designate to go to his office and start work.

The MDC secretary-general also lashed out at the service chiefs for failing to respect "the new authority in town, which is the office of the Prime Minister."

He said the service chiefs had shown reluctance to respect the Prime Minister, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai during the Independence Day celebrations and at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

"The delay in finding a lasting solution to outstanding issues is of great concern to the MDC.

"In our view these issues should have been concluded soon after the formation of the inclusive government in February," Hon. Biti said.

He said the party was worried that some elements in government, Zanu PF, the security forces and public media continued to disregard some clear provisions laid out in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

"There are a number of toxic and poisonous attitudes that some of these institutions are showing. Their attitude is as if they are in a war situation," Hon. Biti said.

He said the public media, especially The Herald and the ZBC, continued to preach hate speech intended to assault the MDC, which is a democratic party that won the 29 March 2008 elections with a clear majority.

Hon. Biti also raised concerns over the disregard of human rights by some State security agents in light of the re-arrests of Zimbabwe Peace Projects director, Jestina Mukoko, Ghandi Mudzingwa, former personal aide of the Prime Minister and 16 other MDC and civil society activists.

"We find it unacceptable that when we want to make progress there are some people whose conduct is inconsistent with rebuilding a new Zimbabwe," he said.

He said the conduct of Zanu PF continued to undo all efforts to rescue the country.

The secretary-general, however, assured MDC supporters and the people of Zimbabwe that the party stood by its principles and values that it had been fighting for the past ten years.

Hon Biti said the MDC has "an excellent relationship" with South African President Jacob Zumba and hoped that the new era in South Africa would bode well for Zimbabwe.

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