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(TALKZIMBABWE) PM Tsvangirai, what are restrictive measures?

PM Tsvangirai, what are restrictive measures?
Comment
Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:21:00 +0000

A Zimbabwe Guardian reader commented: "MDC-T flip flops are now the stuff of legends. On one hand, the leadership of that party, i.e. secretary general Tendai Biti is on record saying that sanctions are real and are preventing Zimbabwe from accessing lines of credits and loans from the IMF/World Bank.

On the other hand, you have party president, Morgan Tsvangirai saying there are only 'restrictive measures' in place. Worse still you have the likes of minister of state from the MDC-T party, Gorden Moyo denying the existence of sanctions. "

In March this year, a report came out of the inclusive Government saying a ministerial task force had been formed to engage the European Union "over sanctions." The task force headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi comprises representatives of all the parties to the inclusive Government who are members of Cabinet.

The MDC-T party is represented by Finance Minister Tendai Biti, while the MDC-M party is represented by Regional Integration and International Co-operation Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube.

Again in March, minister Mumbengengwi said a Council of Ministers meeting headed by PM Tsvangirai, had noted that it would be difficult to mobilise resources to support Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme while the sanctions were still in place.

It is ironic that in Cabinet MDC-T ministers agree that there are sanctions against Zimbabwe. They also agreed, in the Global Political Agreement to which they appended their various signatures, that sanctions against Zimbabwe do exist and are responsible for the suffering of millions of Zimbabweans.

Whether one decides to call them sanctions, restrictive measures, or targetted sanctions, is not the issue. They are sanctions, nevertheless.

When did the term 'targetted sanctions' change to 'restrictive measures'? Since President Barack Obama called them restrictive measures when he renewed the notorious ZIDERA legislation in March this year.

President Obama said at the time: “I therefore urge the international community to recognize our efforts and to note progress in this regard, and to match our progress by moving toward the removal of restrictive measures.”

Since then, the MDC-T party has adopted the same term. Seems ironic that PM Tsvangirai started to use that term soon after his visit to the White House.

It doesn't surprise anyone when President Obama uses these terms. He is trying to tone down the language of his predecessor George W Bush, who made the world hate America. President Obama replaced the term 'war on terrorism' with 'war on extremism'; yet he is basically still saying the same thing as GW Bush.

The MDC-T party is now in the hands of yet another US administration and have to play to the tune of yet another US president. This is why their task in Zimbabwe becomes difficult.

As a party, they cannot speak with one voice because they do not have one voice, or agenda, or ideology. This is why Sadc cannot take them seriously. What exactly do they represent in the wider scheme of things on the African continent?

By saying that there are no sanctions, and yet admitting that there are 'restrictive measures', the MDC-T party is exposing its hypocrisy and ignorance. What exactly are these restrictive measures? What do they restrict? Why did they replace 'targeted sanctions' with 'restrictive measures'? Are they remote-controlled by someone? That party's behaviour indeed smacks of an organisation that is struggling to find an identity, a purpose; given the hotch-potch of interests and characters that constitute it.

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 4:14 PM