(DAILY MAIL) Zanu-PF hints at unity government

Zanu-PF hints at unity government
By AMOS CHANDA

ZIMBABWE’S ruling party has given the clearest indication so far that it is prepared to form a government of national unity (GNU) with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and organise fresh elections under a new constitution and close supervision of the international community.

According to an opinion in the state Herald newspaper, the Zimbabwean situation was "dire but not all is lost” because “Zimbabwe and Africa and the progressive international community can turn it around.”

For this to happen, two conditions must be recognised, accepted, and met on the ground by all the stakeholders.

“The current socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe is not conducive and the country’s political dynamics so distorted that holding a free and fair election run-off in the immediate term is literally impossible,” the paper says.

Accordingly, the most viable and safest way forward is for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate negotiations for a transitional government of national unity, which will call on the international community to compel Europe and the United States to lift economic sanctions on Zimbabwe.

The paper says Zimbabwean and independent international observers should accept that the just-ended harmonised elections did not produce an outright winner in the presidential race and that the on-going recount was unlikely to substantively alter that position.

“Accordingly, it stands to reason that the transitional government of national unity negotiated by the two leading contending parties, under the mediation of SADC (and) supported by the international community, should be led by the incumbent president.”

“For the above scenario to materialise there needs to be a major paradigm shift in the thinking of three major players. It is up to SADC, assisted by the progressive international community to ensure that such a shift does take place.”

The paper names the key players as Zanu-PF, the MDC and the British and American governments.

“The peace and security Zimbabwe has enjoyed since independence is at great risk. Whilst the ruling party must stop behaving like a wounded buffalo, the opposition party must stop its hysterics and lapses into delusion.”

“The ruling party, as the senior and more experienced organisation, both nationally and internationally, needs to show greater self-restraint and maturity.”

The paper advises that there would be no harm in Zanu-PF leaders making a candid introspection of themselves, noting past problems and challenges, and rising to counter them with greater determination.

“The party should allow MDC-Tsvangirai, now in virtual exile, to return home and freely negotiate its participation in a SADC-mediated process that should lead to the establishment of a transitional government of national unity led by the incumbent President Mugabe.”