A nation gripped with GPA fatigue

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By MOSES CHAMBOKO

Published: November 19, 2009

It is now 14 months since the GPA was signed amid pomp and fanfare in Harare. However, it remains largely unimplemented despite numerous summits and meetings on the same subject. Slowly, the nation is getting fatigued by a national mantra that is fast becoming both monotonous and ridiculous.

Our understanding is that negotiation and facilitation came to an end on September 15 2008 after months of intense debate, discussions and disagreement facilitated by former president Thabo Mbeki. Once the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, driven by national interest, gave in to arm-twisting and appended his signature to the flawed agreement, the expectation was that national focus would move to implementation, signalling the end of negotiation and facilitation.

After the recent SADC meeting in Maputo, progressive Zimbabweans anticipated swift resolution of all outstanding issues and full implementation of the GPA by the three principals without necessarily reverting to the negotiating team. What is there to negotiate at this juncture, if I may ask?

Tomana and Gono must go, Bennet should be sworn in, governors must be appointed and installed, ambassadors should be posted, ZMC, IZEC and the other commissions must be constituted and the constitution-making process must start rolling in earnest. Must this be handled by negotiators or by principals under the watchful eye of JOMIC (what a dead horse!) and SADC? It appears that referring outstanding issues to negotiators is like re-opening negotiations. Are we about to witness a new or revised GPA? Is this just a delaying tactic? If so, whose purpose does it serve?

It would have made sense if there was an issue that required further clarification or translation by the negotiating team. All issues at stake are just plain and simple which makes the invitation of negotiators an extremely illogical and retrogressive exercise.

If the three principals have no clue on how to proceed, here is my advice for free;
With regards to RBZ Governor and Attorney-General, both positions must be declared vacant with immediate effect. ZANU will then pick one position while MDC gets the other. Each party will appoint its own candidate for the position it would have picked. If choosing a position is difficult, simply toss a coin! The other option is to declare the two positions vacant then the three principals settle on new candidates, none of which must be the incumbent. The third option is to invite the legal fraternity to forward three candidates for AG, and then principals select one. Captains of Industry and Commerce could also do the same with the RBZ governor. We don’t need months or weeks to settle this simple matrix.

If indeed Bennet is an issue, which I don’t believe because each of the three parties nominated its own ministers without the interference of any other party, then MDC may back down on condition that neither Tomana nor Gono is allowed back into office, and also that acerbic Charamba is relocated far from the media in addition to every other issue in the GPA being resolved. After all, this is only a temporary arrangement which is as short-lived as the inclusive government itself. The MDC can find Bennet other things to do, in the meantime. Pachedu is not desperate for a job. He will bounce back as a full minister after the next elections.

As for the governors and ambassadors, there is nothing to discuss except to execute the formula already agreed by the three parties during negotiations.

Coming to the so-called illegal sanctions, once all outstanding issues are resolved all three parties can issue a joint statement to the international community appealing for the embargo to be lifted. They have to clearly demonstrate that all issues have been resolved amicably and conclusively. It will be up to those nations to determine the timeframe for lifting sanctions, based on their own assessment of developments on the ground. Those who expect Tsvangirai’s magic wand to remove sanctions in a flicker are expecting too much of a corporeal being. That will not happen.

With SADC’s December 6 deadline looming, not many people will hold their breath given the copious occasions national hope has been quashed in the past. Unfortunately by the very same protagonists.

chambokom@gmail.com