Implementation of inclusive govt has been slow, observes Tsvangirai

Implementation of inclusive govt has been slow, observes Tsvangirai
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:36:47 PM

ZIMBABWE'S Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said the implementation of the inclusive government has been very slow because of inherent problems in the government.

He said at the party's annual conference on Saturday that the government was struggling to deliver quick reforms because of various frustrating moments although the government was generally on course.

"We have not moved as far and as fast with positive changes as the people demand and deserve," Prime Minister Tsvangirai said. "The limitations are not a result of lack of commitment, but a result of the limitations you find in a marriage of convenience."

The MDC formed a unity government with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF in February, raising hopes that a deep economic crisis and political hostilities would come to an end.

But Prime Minister Tsvangirai said the inclusive government had not yet succeeded in restoring the rule of law, freedom of association, and putting hunger and poverty to an end.

He also said the state media remained partisan and prejudiced in the favour of ZANU-PF.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai said although schools and hospitals had opened, goods were available and prices had stabilised, the country had opened up to aid agencies and the constitutional making process had started, much remained to be done.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai and President Mugabe last week cleared all outstanding issues in the government but continue to wrangle over the appointments of the central bank governor and Attorney General, who were appointed by the President.

The MDC has since referred the stalemate to be unlocked by SADC and the African Union (AU), who are guarantors of the political agreement.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai said failure to quickly resolve the disagreements would make it difficult for the government to convince Western powers to release budgetary aid to restore Zimbabwe's economy.

Last week, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Prof Arthur Mutambara, the leader of the smaller MDC faction represented in the inclusive government, wrote to SADC and AU to help resolve the matter.

In a letter addressed to SADC chair and South African President Jacob Zuma, SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salomao, AU's Jean Ping, and negotiations facilitator Thabo Mbeki, the duo stated that the parties had failed to agree on the appointments of the central bank governor and the Attorney General, as well as on the formula for the distribution of provincial governors.

"We regret to advise that despite innumerable meetings [among] the three Principals, the ... issues remain unresolved. It would appear that on the part of ZANU-PF the issue of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor and the Attorney General are no issues at all and thus not open for discussion," the letter read in part.

"The failure to address the above issues is clearly affecting the credibility of the inclusive government. It is also causing great misapprehension in our respective political parties. In terms of Article 22.6 of the GPA, the same shall be guaranteed and underwritten by SADC, the African Union and the SADC appointed Facilitator. We thus write to you, in terms of the above provision, kindly requesting you to intercede in this matter to ensure that the above three matters are solved as a matter of urgency."