Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai the Zimbabwe Premier explains the MDC's position in respect of the GPA issues Prime Minister Tsvangirai: "We are working as an inclusive Government. It must reflect both in our character and in our communication."
Clearing the deck
The Head of Government, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (PM) speaks in detail to the PM Newsletter about last week's SADC Troika Summit in Maputo, Mozambique and the 30-day ultimatum set for the fulfilment of all outstanding issues.
PM: The main hallmark of the crisis in Government came about as a result of the disengagement by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) from any executive forum with ZANU PF.
This was precipitated not by an individual but by accumulation of frustrations over the last nine months especially with regards to the fulfilment of the SADC Communiqué of 27 January and the Global Political Agreement (GPA). But to emphasize that, it was exacerbated by the violence against our members, the combination of abductions, arrest of Roy Bennett and of civil society activists, so we felt very strongly that we had to draw the line.
Over the last nine months we had been concentrating on Government delivery rather than on ensuring that the conditions of the letter and spirit of the GPA were fulfilled. The Troika Ministerial mission then came to Zimbabwe following our disengagement, interviewed various political actors in the country and produced a report which was subject for consideration by the extra-ordinary summit of the Troika in Maputo.
Fundamentally the conclusion of the Troika's report was that whilst Government seems to have made progress on a number of key areas of delivery, the GPA had a lot of things that had not been implemented. Of course in response Mr Mugabe said that his party felt that they were the only side that was giving so much and unless there is reciprocity on the question of restrictive measures they cannot do anything further.
We as the MDC believed that the issue was about implementation and not negotiation.
If the process has to gather momentum they must start from the basis that all the conditions of the GPA are fulfilled and of course the (Arthur) Mutambara group had to play in between and suggested that all grievances have to be resolved to the benefit of all the parties.
Q: We are talking to you after the SADC Troika summit, would you kindly unpack the Communiqué for the benefit of the readers? What does it mean?
PM: What SADC resolved was that first and foremost if we have to resolve these issues there must not be any precondition for the resolution of the outstanding issues and for re-engagement.
PM: What SADC resolved was that first and foremost if we have to resolve these issues there must not be any precondition for the resolution of the outstanding issues and for re-engagement.
That's why we announced that we were suspending our disengagement to allow the SADC resolution to be tested and the issues resolved. I think it's important that having lived in the inclusive Government for nine months we can as well be patient for 30 days to ensure that all these issues are resolved once and for all.
The preoccupation of the MDC is to ensure that the concept of the inclusive Government is strengthened rather than undermined. As far as we are concerned we are giving the SADC resolution a chance to resolve the issues in the 30 day period so that we concentrate on the Government Work Programme.
Q: There is scepticism that your partners ZANU PF might take longer than 30 days to resolve these issues. How practical is this time frame given that it has already taken a year to fully implement the GPA?
PM: It's not up to MDC or ZANU PF to choose what to do.
Q: There is scepticism that your partners ZANU PF might take longer than 30 days to resolve these issues. How practical is this time frame given that it has already taken a year to fully implement the GPA?
PM: It's not up to MDC or ZANU PF to choose what to do.
The parties have been tasked by the resolution that in the first fifteen days they have to sit down and go through everything that is affecting the smooth running of the inclusive Government including the outstanding issues.
So it's not by choice. It's by the resolution of SADC that both parties are bound by that resolution to ensure that they fulfil that resolution.
After 15 days the facilitator (The Republic of South Africa) will come and evaluate what has been implemented, what has been agreed and what has not been agreed. Surely I think that both MDC and ZANU PF do not want to find themselves wanting after 15 days to say that nothing has happened. It will be an insult to SADC and their own commitment as parties.
Q: What next if the Troika resolution is ignored and the SADC timeframe lapses without any concrete action?
PM: There is always an option. If the MDC is not happy and if there is no fulfillment of the GPA in 30 days, nothing will stop us calling for an extra-ordinary summit of SADC which I think will be foolhardy for anyone to call for an extra ordinary summit when we have an opportunity of resolving all these issues in 30 days.
Q: Since the SADC meeting, have you talked to Mr Mugabe, informally or otherwise? Has there been any movement?
PM: Not yet for the simple reason that Mr Mugabe left Maputo for Egypt and I have only been back in the office today. So we hope that at the earliest opportunity we will meet, perhaps in the first session of Cabinet this week.
Q: Do you think the unavailability of Mr Mugabe could cause delays in meeting the 15 day deadline set by SADC?
PM: No, it doesn't stop the process. The parties to the Agreement are supposed to meet this week. They do not need the Principals to direct them. They sit on their own and hammer out the issues.
Q: The current stand-off seems to contradict your previous description of your working relationship with Mr Mugabe as ‘cordial'. How would you describe your working relationship now?
PM: I'm sure that Mr Mugabe will say we have a working relationship. But if it is a working relationship that works to the advantage of one party against the other, it's no longer mutual.
Q: What next if the Troika resolution is ignored and the SADC timeframe lapses without any concrete action?
PM: There is always an option. If the MDC is not happy and if there is no fulfillment of the GPA in 30 days, nothing will stop us calling for an extra-ordinary summit of SADC which I think will be foolhardy for anyone to call for an extra ordinary summit when we have an opportunity of resolving all these issues in 30 days.
Q: Since the SADC meeting, have you talked to Mr Mugabe, informally or otherwise? Has there been any movement?
PM: Not yet for the simple reason that Mr Mugabe left Maputo for Egypt and I have only been back in the office today. So we hope that at the earliest opportunity we will meet, perhaps in the first session of Cabinet this week.
Q: Do you think the unavailability of Mr Mugabe could cause delays in meeting the 15 day deadline set by SADC?
PM: No, it doesn't stop the process. The parties to the Agreement are supposed to meet this week. They do not need the Principals to direct them. They sit on their own and hammer out the issues.
Q: The current stand-off seems to contradict your previous description of your working relationship with Mr Mugabe as ‘cordial'. How would you describe your working relationship now?
PM: I'm sure that Mr Mugabe will say we have a working relationship. But if it is a working relationship that works to the advantage of one party against the other, it's no longer mutual.
The gap in the implementation of the spirit and letter of the GPA tells it all. Of course you can sit down and talk, but talking is cheap until you are able deliver and it is delivery that has affected the relationship.
Q: Do you think it's enough for you and Mr Mugabe to enjoy a cordial working relationship when supporters on the ground are still fighting?
PM: This is the paradox we have to deal with. Various layers of our political parties must appreciate that we are in a new political dispensation. It's no use to retreat into your compartment and have the same combative attitude towards other parties.
Q: Do you think it's enough for you and Mr Mugabe to enjoy a cordial working relationship when supporters on the ground are still fighting?
PM: This is the paradox we have to deal with. Various layers of our political parties must appreciate that we are in a new political dispensation. It's no use to retreat into your compartment and have the same combative attitude towards other parties.
We are working as an inclusive Government. It must reflect both in our character and in our communication. That's why my biggest disappointment with the state media in which they are actually on a super drive to apportion blame and success.
That's not how the inclusive Government should communicate. The inclusive Government must reflect that inclusivity that there are parties working to contribute to the success of the administration. It's very unfortunate that this should continue to be reflected in the state media.
Q: Media space has not opened up since the formation of the transitional Government. What happened to the ZMC, which we hear you agreed on the candidates long back?
PM: We have agreed on the composition of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, the chairperson and deputy, what is only left is to announce the commissioners. We want to ensure that all these commissions are announced in time so that they can do their work.
Q: Media space has not opened up since the formation of the transitional Government. What happened to the ZMC, which we hear you agreed on the candidates long back?
PM: We have agreed on the composition of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, the chairperson and deputy, what is only left is to announce the commissioners. We want to ensure that all these commissions are announced in time so that they can do their work.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission interviews were carried out and we have to agree on the appointments. Once these commissions have been appointed they can start working including of course open up the media space.
Q: Still on the public media, they have identified sanctions and pirate radio stations, parallel government as some of the issues you have to deal with? And there are claims that you told a European Union delegation that came to Zimbabwe not to remove sanctions?
PM: I can't respond to the state media's obsession with sanctions because I'm sure that anyone who was in Maputo will tell you that there were various issues around the lack of implementation of the GPA and of course restrictive measures was part of that discussion.
Q: Still on the public media, they have identified sanctions and pirate radio stations, parallel government as some of the issues you have to deal with? And there are claims that you told a European Union delegation that came to Zimbabwe not to remove sanctions?
PM: I can't respond to the state media's obsession with sanctions because I'm sure that anyone who was in Maputo will tell you that there were various issues around the lack of implementation of the GPA and of course restrictive measures was part of that discussion.
But I must underline that Morgan Tsvangirai is not personally accountable neither is the MDC as a party accountable for the removal of sanctions. This issue in terms of the GPA is a collective responsibility. Zimbabwe's isolation is a collective responsibility.
It should not be apportioned to any particular party, let us approach it from that angle.
The other thing on radio stations is that once the ZMC is in place you make the parallel market irrelevant.
On the EU delegation, that's an obsession, a pre-occupation that the state media has. The problem with propaganda is that you say it so often and you end up believing it yourself.
And that's what they are doing. They have said so many lies that even those who write it do not believe what they are writing about so who am I to give them credibility.
It's just a figment of their imagination.
Q: There seems to be continued disregard for the rule of law especially in the farming community by senior security personnel, what is your take on that?
PM: These are the issues that are all subject to us looking at them in terms of the GPA.
Q: There seems to be continued disregard for the rule of law especially in the farming community by senior security personnel, what is your take on that?
PM: These are the issues that are all subject to us looking at them in terms of the GPA.
The rule of law issue is a very important aspect of the Agreement. Let the parties deal with it.
We want a framework, a timeline to deal with all issues and you cannot be selective and say this issue is more important than all the other issues.
All issues are as equally important as those that are contained in the GPA to create the necessary peace and stability.
Q: To what extent is the current stand off as well as the renewed cases of violence and hostility affecting your efforts to deliver?
PM: As long as there is instability, as long as there is violence against Zimbabweans, it affects the credibility of this inclusive Government.
Q: To what extent is the current stand off as well as the renewed cases of violence and hostility affecting your efforts to deliver?
PM: As long as there is instability, as long as there is violence against Zimbabweans, it affects the credibility of this inclusive Government.
We cannot be held accountable for the actions of national institutions when they become errant.
We have to rein in on those errant individuals who are acting outside the law. It affects our credibility, it affects the confidence, nationally and internationally as an inclusive Government. It affects our credibility as leaders.
Q: You have been heading the Government since February, can you describe how it has been for Zimbabwe since you started heading the Government? What major achievements have you made?
PM: Well, I cannot blow my own trumpet. Ask Zimbabweans, surely there is ample proof that they would like to see this Government continue to deliver to their needs.
Q: You have been heading the Government since February, can you describe how it has been for Zimbabwe since you started heading the Government? What major achievements have you made?
PM: Well, I cannot blow my own trumpet. Ask Zimbabweans, surely there is ample proof that they would like to see this Government continue to deliver to their needs.
I'm sure there is positive reception as to the actions taken by the inclusive Government. I can assure you that the majority of Zimbabweans are having much better lives than they were ten months ago.
Q: What have you not achieved that you would have wanted to achieve by now?
PM: I'm disappointed at the slow pace of implementation of the GPA and evidence on our actions demonstrates that. We cannot continue to procrastinate on these issues, it just becomes frustrating.
Q: What have you not achieved that you would have wanted to achieve by now?
PM: I'm disappointed at the slow pace of implementation of the GPA and evidence on our actions demonstrates that. We cannot continue to procrastinate on these issues, it just becomes frustrating.
We do not want to become frustrated on things that we have agreed.
Let us be frustrated by things that are out of our control but we cannot make complaints about things within our control.
Q: There seems to be uncertainty partly because of the problems in the transitional Government, what would you say to assure the business community and the generality of Zimbabweans?
PM: The worst thing you can ever have in a country is lack of hope.
Q: There seems to be uncertainty partly because of the problems in the transitional Government, what would you say to assure the business community and the generality of Zimbabweans?
PM: The worst thing you can ever have in a country is lack of hope.
The decision by the MDC to disengage was to deal with these issues and the re-engagement creates the necessary hope and confidence that will allow business to look forward. What I can say is that this process has to be consolidated.
We remove all doubt, we create conditions for business confidence and international investment and anything that undermines that drive is against the interests of Zimbabweans. So to me taking the people's interests first means that we have to deal with these outstanding issues so that people cannot raise doubt about the commitment of the inclusive Government to the rule of law, democracy, progress and security of persons.
Q: Prime Minister Tsvangirai, has anyone come to you, ordinary people or business people, to say we are concerned with what is happening and have you given them any assurances?
PM: Yes, yes, I've had so many meetings with civil society, the business community and so many ordinary Zimbabweans.
Q: Prime Minister Tsvangirai, has anyone come to you, ordinary people or business people, to say we are concerned with what is happening and have you given them any assurances?
PM: Yes, yes, I've had so many meetings with civil society, the business community and so many ordinary Zimbabweans.
I've even had personal calls and the outcry is todzekerazve here kuya, zvauyazve here zvakare. That has been the greatest concern.
I have told them that the action that we took as MDC was to clear the deck so that when we take off we do not raise doubt. When people want to put their money in this country they must be assured that this process is strong, irreversible and that is able to create the confidence that is necessary. The better we do it now than to do it two years down the line.
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