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Public expectations on the MOU between Zanu PF and MDC
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJP)
August 18, 2008

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ) notes with expectant satisfaction that the two major political entities that have dominated Zimbabwe's political life and have been locked in needless confrontation for a decade signed a memorandum of understanding on July 21 2008 in Harare. The three principal signatories were Messers Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF. Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara of the two MDc formations. The ceremony symbolized the long-cherished dream of many Zimbabweans for a return to normal life. This is especially so in the context of the nine-year-old protracted struggle, the violence and blood-soaked presidential election run-off campaign period between March 29 and June 27 2008.

The post March 29 period has been marked by widespread and unprecedented violence, resulting in many deaths, assaults, injuries, destruction of property and displacement of people in a campaign that resulted in omnipresent fear throughout the country. The period has also been characterized by political paralysis and dire economic conditions for the generality of the population. There has been a deep sense of desperation and hopelessness. It is in light of this that the CCJPZ welcomes the MoU but with guarded optimism. It is our considered view that the MoU lays down a viable framework for fully fledged talks on substantive issues. The prospects of progress are good but only if there is mutual seriousness and sincerity on part of every one concerned. We expert the formal talks that are currently underway to focus on the following:

Immediate: There must be an immediate end to the political violence that is still going on in different parts of the country and directed at "politically incorrect" persons and organizations. The politically motivated ban on the variegated activities of NGOs must be lifted forthwith to enable them to carry out their legitimate functions; especially in respect of humanitarian assistance to needy Zimbabweans.

Intermediate: We expect that the talks will pay particular attention to the restoration of the rule of law and its application in a non-discriminatory or selective manner. Associated with this is the need to completely de-politicize and re-professionalize our law enforcement agencies that had become heavily politicized and compromised. Similarly, this applies to all other security agencies, particularly the military, that, through its actions, given the strong impression that they were extensions of Zanu PF rather than impartial organs of the state. To this extent, we recommend a programme action be put in place to completely separate the Zanu PF party from the state and to ensure that in future the state - which is a national institution - is never again fused to any political party. In the intermediate period we also expert that a transitional government is put in place in a manner that reflects the voluntarily expressed will of the people basing on the March 29 2008 Harmonized Elections results. The transitional government must be time framed to last not less than two years but not more than three years. This will allow for a process of national healing, political reconciliation and economic rehabilitation to take place at the end of which must be a new people-centered constitution leading to internationally supervised elections. This will demand dismantling the present heavily discredited Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and its replacement by citizens of integrity and professionalism.

Long-term: It is expected that the above will themselves be transitional mechanisms and requirements leading to the re-establishment of a democratic political order based on sound governance in the administrative, economic, and political sectors of our society. The ultimate goal is to have a happy, united, just and prosperous Zimbabweans among all Zimbabweans irrespective of ethnicity, race, gender, region, religion, disability and other parochial considerations.

Commitments

The Commission commits itself to monitor the implementation of the MoU by the respective signatories and their followers. Thus, the Commission noted with concern the utterances by a senior official in Government on the July 22 2008 on one of the international media channels making disparaging remarks about the opposition political parties in Zimbabwe throwing in question the sincerity and commitment to upholding the spirit of the MoU.

As if the above was not enough, a spouse of a leader of one of the main political parties at the talks during a ceremony at Murombedzi Growth Point in Zvimba distributing some farm implements also made use of hate speech or abusive language that undermines the climate of negotiations as well as the MoU.

The public media which is the ZBC, ZTV right through the newspapers like The Herald, The Sunday Mail and other sister publications are still churning out the same abusive language or derisive messages aimed at inciting political intolerance. A case in point is an advert that is being flighted on print, radio and television purportedly thanking the voters for voting in peace. It is in bad spirit, spiteful, and at most insulting considering the pain, brutality and suffering the people of Zimbabwe went through during the post March 29 2008 period till now. In order to promote the healing of memories the Commission humbly recommends the removal of that advert forthwith and other radio programmes of similar contents.

To this end, violence has not de-escalated in some parts of the country notably in Manicaland, Gokwe and Mashonaland provinces. Reports from our monitors on the ground allude to the harassment and beatings of some of the recently inaugurated rural district councilors for example in the Ngezi-Mhondoro areas.

The Commission will continue to monitor and report on the implementation and compliance deficiencies by all parties to the MoU.

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