Maravi

MDC comes up with methodology of sharing key ministries

MDC comes up with methodology of sharing key ministries
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has devised a methodology of sharing the contentious key ministries with ZANU-PF by pairing them in the orders of importance and relative equality so as to break the stalemate.

The Zimbabwean parties have been deadlocked on how to share the key ministries in the proposed inclusive government despite interventions by regional leaders.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti, who is also the party's chief negotiator, alleged on Tuesday that at the core of the differences between MDC and ZANU-PF regarding the sharing of ministries was the lack of sincerity and good faith on the part of ZANU-PF.

The SADC troika on Monday failed to narrow the parties' differences and referred the dispute to a full SADC summit, to be held next week at latest.

"It is regrettable that the troika could not narrow the gaps between the Zimbabwe parties. In our view, an urgent summit towards the resolution of the Zimbabwe crisis is paramount... At the core of our differences, in our view, is the lack of sincerity and good faith on the part of ZANU-PF. The fact that contrary to the Global Political Agenda (GPA), ZANU-PF is still interfering with the distribution of humanitarian assistance, and the fact that it is still emasculating basic freedoms is equally unacceptable," Biti stated in a press statement.

Biti hoped the emergency SADC summit would conclude the outstanding issues, especially the allocation of portfolio ministries to ensure that both parties have equitable authority.

"In this regard the MDC has suggested a methodology in respect of which the key ministries are paired in the orders of importance and relative equality. We identified 10 key ministries, which we believe are supposed to be shared equitably. For instance, we have paired Home Affairs to Defence, Justice and Legal Affairs to Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Mines and Minerals Development to Environment and Youth to Women. In our view equity and responsibility with authority can be achieved if the ministries are therefore allocated on the basis of the above methodology," Biti stated.

"However, there is an attempt to ignore or overlook these fundamental principles and hence the claim in some circles that only the Portfolio Ministry of Home Affairs is outstanding. Nothing can be further from the truth."

Biti said the other outstanding issue was the appointment of the 10 provincial governors in line with the outcome of the March 29 elections.

"The third outstanding issue is the question of the composition, functions and constitution of the National Security Council. This is a critical issue in view of the dangerous and partisan role that has been displayed by the intelligence services in this country," he said.

He said the other issue to be discussed would be the appointment of permanent secretaries and ambassadors, as well as the question of Constitutional Amendment No. 19, which would be the legal document necessary and conditional in bringing the inclusive government into life.

However, Biti expressed disappointment that the troika on Monday discussed the issue of the alteration of the agreement between MDC and ZANU-PF but that the issue was not reflected in the communiqué.

"The (other) point is the morally irreprehensible fact that the fraudulent alteration of the agreement of the 11th of September 2008 and the one that was signed on the 15th of September 2008. It is our understanding that the Troika in fact made a resolution that it is the agreement of the 11th of September 2008 that should be binding and we are indeed surprised that it was not captured in the communiqué," said Biti.

Labels: MDC, ZANU-PF

posted by MrK @ 6:59 PM