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Inclusive government - Index of articles
Statement
marking the 1st anniversary of the GPA
Morgan
Tsvangirai, President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
September
01, 2009
On the 15th
of September 2008, the Principals of the three main political parties
in Zimbabwe signed the Global
Political Agreement, (GPA). On the 27th of January 2009, following
a SADC Summit in Pretoria, South Africa, that body issued a Communiqué
that among other things directed the three political parties to
the Zimbabwe dialogue to form an inclusive Government and to resolve
the appointments of the Attorney General, the RBZ Governor, Provincial
Governors and to appoint Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
With this undertaking,
the inclusive Government was formed and commenced work on the 25th
of February 2009. We in the MDC took a firm decision on the 30th
of January 2009 to participate in this government, to give the people
of Zimbabwe hope and an opportunity to retain their dignity and
to restart their lives.
Despite the enormous
problems faced in healing our shattered nation, we have been able
to allow the people to begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
In addition, a degree of peace and stability has begun to take root
and basic foods and services have returned to the country.
However, as a Party we
remain concerned and disappointed with the deliberate frustration
associated with the implementation of key outstanding issues of
the GPA, including the failure to implement the SADC resolutions
of the 27th of January 2009.
Firstly, it is regrettable
that the government has not been fully consummated to the extent
that not all ministerial office holders have been sworn-in. The
case of Roy Bennett remains a blatant indicator of poor faith in
implementing the GPA.
Secondly, the outstanding
issue of the RBZ Governor and the Attorney General, which ought
to have been resolved a long time ago, are impacting negatively
on the credibility and legitimacy of the inclusive Government. SADC
accepted that these were genuine issues and that the appointments
should not have been made as they were in breach of both the MOU,
signed in July 2008, and the GPA. It is imperative that these issues
be resolved as a matter of urgency.
Thirdly, it is also regrettable
that we have not resolved or implemented agreed positions on Provincial
Governors despite the negotiators agreeing on a formula for their
fair allocation.
Over and above this,
the political climate in Zimbabwe continues to be marred by unfortunate
and vicious propaganda that emanates from the State media. It appears
that the State media continues to see the three political parties
in the inclusive Government through its historic perspective of
hatred and acrimony, blatantly advancing the interests of a single
political party.
This distortion of the
political reality by the State media presents a real and credible
threat to this inclusive Government and its ability to impact positively
on the lives of all Zimbabweans
To make matters worse,
the selective application of the rule of law, including the persecution
and prosecution of MDC MPs, continues to inflame political tensions.
Equally problematic, is the deliberately slow pace of progress on
the implementation of key issues connected to Human Rights and the
rule of law. This includes the self evident deliberate stalemate
on the Constitutional-reform process, as well as the slow pace of
media reform.
As a Government, we cannot
expect to be taken seriously by the people, the region or the international
community, if we do not abide by the commitments we signed up to
in the GPA.
This agreement was not
the invention or desire of a single political party. Instead it
represented a pledge by the three main political parties to put
aside our differences and to work together to rebuild our nation
and to provide an environment for all Zimbabweans to rebuild their
lives.
This pledge was made
with the support and backing of SADC and the African Union (AU)
who stand as guarantors of the agreement.
This was evidenced by
the recent visit of South African President and Chairman of SADC,
Jacob Zuma. I would like to thank President Zuma for taking the
time to familiarise himself with the issues facing our country and
for echoing the call for the full implementation of the GPA.
In addition to being
the guarantors of the agreement, SADC and the AU also undertook
to conduct a six-month review of the inclusive Government and the
allocation of ministerial mandates to the respective parties.
While the exact timing,
form and content of such a review has not yet been finalised, we
urge SADC to place the issue of Zimbabwe for specific consideration
during the forthcoming summit in Kinshasa.
As President of the MDC,
I remain committed to ensuring that the GPA provides the foundation
upon which we can build a healthy, prosperous and open society and
I shall do everything in my authority that this is the Zimbabwe
that we deliver to the people.
To all our citizens,
I express my profound respect and admiration for your courage, resilience
and unwavering belief in the Zimbabwe that we all demand and deserve.
Together we will restore our nation to its proud place in the region
as a beacon of hope, prosperity and freedom.
I thank you,
Morgan Tsvangirai
MDC President
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