Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Cheap election politicking, Tsvangirai denies sanctions again

COMMENT - It should be clear to everyone that the MDC is hiding the economic sanctions and their effects from the Zimbabwean people. There are elections coming up in a few months, and national elections next year. The economic collapse in Zimbabwe was caused by economic sanctions, and when the people of Zimbabwe know that their economy was sabotaged from the UK and US, by the MDC, they are going to do very poorly in the upcoming elections - and Morgan Tsvangirai knows that. This is the price they must pay for conspiring against their own country and people.

Cheap election politicking, Tsvangirai denies sanctions again
By: Comment by Nancy Pasipanodya
Posted: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 3:26 am

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has resorted to old rhetoric as he goes into election campaigning mode ahead of anticipated elections next month. The MDC-T leader is known more for his populist speeches which lack substance.

In typical flip flop fashion, the prime minister has changed his rhetoric on sanctions, yet again. He now claims that there are no sanctions against Zimbabwe, preferring to call them "restrictive measures" once again.

This is despite the fact that Article IV of the Global Political Agreement which Mr Tsvangirai signed with President Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara entitled "Sanctions and Measures" is clear on the issue of sanctions.

Besides, in March this year Mr Tsvangirai admitted that sanctions against Zimbabwe, which his party took part in formulating, were hurting the economy.

Speaking after meeting visiting Danish Minister for Development Co-operation Soren Pind in Harare on March 1 2010, the PM said the inclusive Government was irreversible and the West should acknowledge this by doing away with the illegal and discredited embargo.

"Well, the issue of sanctions debate is a very contentious one in Zimbabwe. We want all sanctions removed," said the prime minister to the media in March.

Zanu-PF youths had piled pressure on the prime minister by marching through the streets of Harare and giving the MDC-T leader an ultimatum up to March 24 to come out clearly in opposition to the embargo.

Speaking at a public accountability seminar organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) in Harare Monday, Tsvangirai said the economy was ruined by Zanu-PF's "bad decisions" and that there was no sanctions against Zimbabwe.

“Our problems emanated from mis-governance, the ... land reform and RBZ’s printing of worthless currency that is the bearer cheques.

"All these compounded to what was already a political problem to an economic one. There is no economic sanctions regime in this country, there are restrictive measures," said the prime minister.

“We have agreed as principals to tackle the issue of restrictive measures as this isolation has affected the lines of credit."

However, Tsvangirai in March challenged Denmark and its Western allies to stop politicising assistance to Zimbabwe, saying any form of aid should be channelled through the inclusive Government.

"If you want to support the people of Zimbabwe, you have to support the coalition Government.

"It can’t be done through political parties. President Mugabe is President of Zimbabwe and you cannot separate President Mugabe from the whole process."

He has now changed his rhetoric as elections are in sight.

The United States, Britain and the European Union (EU) have admintted that there are sanctions against Zimbabwe. Regional groups, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), have called for the immediate lifting of the sanctions.

Former British foreign secretary David Miliband told the House of Commons earlier this year that Britain was waiting for advice from MDC-T on how to proceed on sanctions.

Ironically, Prime Minister Tsvangirai's turnaround comes as a Zimbabwean delegation compromising of the two MDC formations and Zanu PF, met US assistant secretary of state for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson and special assistant to the US President who is also a senior director for African affairs, Michelle Gavin in a bid to unlock the issue of sanctions.

Zimbabwe was represented at the meeting by the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Energy and Power Elton Mangoma, and Minister of Regional and International Cooperation, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

The delegation is tasked through Section 4.6 (c) of the GPA to re-engage the international community with a view to bringing to an end sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Labels: HYPOCRISY, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 1:09 PM