Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Zanu PF should hit back at bigots

Zanu PF should hit back at bigots
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:07:00 +0000

WHILE it is the policy of the Government of Zimbabwe not to respond publicly to unwarranted attacks from our neighbours, individuals and columnists are free to do so in pursuance of the doctrine of freedom of expression.

A press release issued recently by the government of Botswana through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation violently attacking Zanu-PF, a signatory to the Global Political Agreement that paved way to the formation of the inclusive Government in Zimbabwe, cannot just pass unchallenged.

The statement expresses Botswana’s over elaborate concern at what it terms new developments in Zimbabwe, in particular the ‘‘detention’’ of 18 human rights activists/political detainees on charges of plotting to overthrow President Mugabe’s Government.

The statement also expresses apprehension over the failure to resolve the issue of key appointments in Government, which, according to the Botswana authorities, should be equally distributed amongst Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC.

Further, the statement expresses concern at alleged continuing farm invasions.

In a blatant move that can best be described as interference in the affairs of sister State, the statement declares: "These irresponsible and provocative acts can only serve to undermine the implementation of the Global Political Agreement and efforts by the international community to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the economy in Zimbabwe."

To be precise, Botswana is trying hard to do the impossible.

The people of Zimbabwe have agreed and have formed the inclusive Government that is clearly functioning for all intense and purposes.

Throwing spanners in its way to prevent functionality or to instigate derailment measures against the inclusive Government is being illogical and will never succeed.

Imprudent statements meant to promote one party against the other is not only being mischievous on the part of authorities in Botswana but a shining example of how some African countries have wittingly been made extensions of the American Foreign arm.

Phandu Skelemani, Botswana’s Foreign Affairs Minister is a man I do not respect.

A few months ago he called for a total blockade on Zimbabwe’s borders in order to impose Botswana’s own version of the inclusive government on Zimbabwe.

A call that former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice quickly distanced herself from.

Not only that, the man also unsuccessfully advocated for a military invasion on Zimbabwe.

How far should this man and his boss be allowed to go? Time will obviously tell sooner rather than later.

Zimbabwe is under the glare of international scrutiny and bigots in Gaborone who after all have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they are puppets on strings should not distract the hard road that the inclusive Government is travelling on.

Batswana authorities cannot arrogate themselves imagined powers of shepherding Zanu-PF into line on behalf of the two MDC formations.

Yes, an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence amongst the parties to the Global Political Agreement remains the bedrock for full international re-engagement with Zimbabwe.

This does not in any way grant the Botswana government a free reign to decide how the inclusive Government should be structured.

While Zimbabwe is grateful that Botswana and other countries have pledged lines of credit to the inclusive Government, it is wishful thinking on the part of authorities in Gaborone to use those pledges as leverage to dictate how the inclusive Government should be structured.

Botswana, just like other Sadc countries should strive to stay above the fray in order to facilitate the smooth functioning of the inclusive Government.

Hard as it is to take, Skelemani and his colleagues in Gaborone must simply admit that the political road map Zimbabwe is walking on is unique.

It does not need any patronising interference, especially from those with wet noses.

The patronising and disturbing posture being taken by the Botswana government is no different from the viewpoints of US Republican Senator, Jesse Helms.

In spite of the positeveness of the Reagan administration towards the government of President Joachim Chissano, Helms campaigned for massive armament of the Renamo rebels, not for any special cause but to cause instability in Mozambique perceived to be government by presumed communists.

In Zimbabwe’s case, both the AU and Sadc have called for patience and advised its members not to play to the gallery, as that would bring too many unwanted fingers into the cooking pot.

Botswana’s Foreign Minister Skelemani, in his own wisdom or lack of it, has decided to wear Jesse helms shoes, which I suppose, are fitting perfectly well.

The timing of Botswana’s statement, issued shortly before Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai publicly stated that outstanding issues in the Global political Agreement were now being referred to Sadc and the AU glaring unmasks Gaborone’s motive of becoming a self imposed referee in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.

As long as Skelemani and Company continue to meddle in our internal affairs on flimsy excuses, history will record such actions as the fountain of uneasy relations between the two nations.

For example, if I may pose a not so hypothetical question: what would be Gaborone’s reaction, if, in the not so distant future Harare starts supporting and funding forces that are opposed to the military junta in that country?

Botswana’s bad neighbourliness and hostile diplomacy in my own opinion is now running amok.

Is it not high time sand lines are drawn?

Perhaps it would be in Gaborone’s favour to reconsider some of those it embraces as its advisors.

Right wing intellectuals like Greig Mills, who are known CIA agents, have no business in advising Sadc governments.

Mills is the Director of the Brenthurst Foundation, a purported research organisation based in Johannesburg whose mandate is "to promote growth in Africa".

In an article recently posted on the Internet, Greig and a colleague based at the University of Miami in America, Jeffrey Herbst, advises, donors to channel funds towards Zimbabwe’s reconstruction through Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s office.

"To consolidate progress, donors should end their ambivalence about the inclusive government and begin to support Mr Tsvangirai’s aims.

"Direct assistance can be channelled directly to his office.

"The MDC has also recognised that the only way to deal with the Tsunami of advisers (including Geig himself) and aid agencies that will eventually come is to establish a single entry into the government for donors, likely in the Prime Minister’s office, instead of allowing aid to go directly to ministries that may be run by Mugabe partisans.

"Donors should support this effort as a way to strengthen Mr Tsvangirai," writes Greig.

The above thinking is not different at all from Gaborone’s repugnant attack on Zanu-PF.

Skelemani’s show of aggression on Zanu-PF is calculated and deigned to project a picture that Zanu-PF is not being sincere in its obligations in the GPA contrary to remarkable and to a high extend baffling progress the inclusive Government has so far made in trying to work together.

The objective here is to try as much as possible to keep Zimbabwe on the international radar, a stance that necessarily does not benefit ordinary Zimbabweans.

Ask any Zimbabwean in the streets and he will give you a clean bill of health on the inclusive Government contrary to Skelemani’s outburst.

Perhaps Skelemani is not aware that there is a body provided for in the GPA, like Article XX11 that provides for the Joint Monitoring and Implementation of the GPA.

The committee receives reports and complaints in respect of any issue related to the implementation, enforcement and execution of the GPA.

It is unfortunate that the Botswana government has taken a position inconsistent with that of Sadc and the AU.

Its interference in the implementation of the GPA signed by Zimbabwe’s political players is cause for concern.

Perhaps its high time Zanu-PF comes out of its shell and robustly advises its partners in the inclusive Government that Gaborone’s interference will continuously widen already existing cracks and that megaphone diplomacy has proved to be a fatal failure the world over.

Labels: BOTSWANA, GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT, ZANU-PF

posted by MrK @ 12:39 AM