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(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai seeks Sadc help, Mutambara stays in GNU

Tsvangirai seeks Sadc help, Mutambara stays in GNU
Mutsawashe Makuvise
Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:44:00 +0000

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will be on the road this week asking other leaders in the region to "rescue" the inclusive Government from which he “disengaged”, his spokesman said Monday.

James Maridadi said the prime minister was leaving later Monday to visit Congo, Mozambique, Angola and South Africa to “explain” the MDC-T’s decision to disengage from the inclusive Government and seek help.

Congo chairs the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) regional group that mediated and guaranteed Zimbabwe's inclusive Government agreement between President Robert Mugabe, PM Tsvangirai and DPM Arthur Mutambara.

Tsvangirai will also seek the help of influential facilitator of the inter-party talks, former South African president Thabo Mbeki.

The MDC-T party has previously criticised Sadc and former president Mbeki for not taking a "tough stance" on President Mugabe. MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti last year attacked (then) president Mbeki and the 14 nation Sadc, saying they "did not have the capacity" to mediate on the Zimbabwean situation.

PM Tsvangirai announced Friday he was withdrawing from the inclusive Government, not officially, citing the indictment of MDC-T financier and treasurer-general, Roy Bennett.

Maridadi said Tsvangirai would brief the leaders on his decision and seek "understanding and rescue ... to help ... resolve the outstanding issues in the inclusive Government."

Zanu PF has said Tsvangirai's move was meaningless and that the work of the inclusive government would go on without him and his MDC-T members of Cabinet.

President Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba on Sunday said the president would address the issue at an opportune time.

MUTAMBARA AND MDC TO STAY IN GOVT

Meanwhile, the MDC faction led by Professor Arthur Mutambara, said its three ministers would continue to attend cabinet meetings, as a boycott would have a negative effect on Zimbabwe.

"As a party we will never walk away anytime, when the majority of the people are starting to have hope in this inclusive Government," the party said.

DPM Mutambara said while he sympathized with PM Tsvangirai's complaints he would not be pulling his party out of the inclusive Government.

He appealed to PM Tsvangirai to return to the inclusive Government, which had brought political stability and economic growth to Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in the capital late Monday afternoon, DPM Mutambara said the ordinary people in Zimbabwe have high hopes on the political arrangement which has seen stabilisation in the national economy and general recovery in the last eight months.

He was reacting to the recent development where the MDC-T has decided to boycott government meetings, over its deputy minister of agriculture designate Roy Bennet who is facing charges of contravening sections of the Public Order and Security Act for possessing weapons meant to commit acts of insurgency, banditry, terrorism and sabotage.

DPM Mutambara explained that although there are some issues that have not yet been implemented, such as the making of a new constitution and media reform laws, the leaders should not forget to put the people first, as the people were the main reason why the three leaders formed the inclusive Government.

He said the Bennet case should not be allowed to bring down the inclusive Government saying the attorney-general should have exercised his discretion to prevent the re-incarceration of the former Chimanimani legislator.

Essential services such as health care, water distribution and the transport sector have been put at risk by the boycott, according to analyst Joseph Kurebgwa.

"It's going to be a long-drawn-out crisis and I don't think Zanu PF would give into the MDC-T demands," said Kurebgwa, an analyst at the University of Zimbabwe.

Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

posted by MrK @ 11:49 PM