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Home , Arthur Mutambara, Edna Madzongwe, Gibson Sibanda, Gorden Moyo, Jonathan Moyo, Lovemore Moyo

CRISIS REPORTS

AUGUST 27, 2008 Fresh insights into the Zimbabwean situation

CONVENING PARLIAMENT CONTRAVENES EARLIER DEAL

But election of an MDC member as speaker is major setback for president’s plans to control legislature.

By Benedict Unendoro in

President convened Zimbabwe’s new parliament this week in clear violation of the agreement which governs the now stalled negotiations between his ZANU-PF and the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, led by and .

The talks, an attempt to end the Credit: Lazele impasse which has paralysed the body politic since ZANU-PF lost the The newly elected speaker of parliament, , pictured in parliament soon general election on 29 March, ground after being elected. Picture taken August 25.

NEWS IN BRIEF Zimbabwe’s new parliament, elected August 16-17 summit of the Southern was arrested as he entered the on March 29, convened for its formal African Development Community, parliament building. A second MDC opening on August 26. President SADC, the regional grouping parliamentarian detained at the same Robert Mugabe attended, as did a overseeing the negotiations. The time was freed in time to take part in number of senior officials from the SADC meeting signalled its assent for the secret ballot. Movement for Democratic Change, parliament to be convened, implying MDC, despite talk of a boycott by that a new prime minister and cabinet ZANU-PF, with 99 seats, did not put opposition members, AFP reported. could also be named soon. This up a candidate. Moyo was challenged seemed to go against earlier by , nominated by The bigger of two MDC factions, led agreements which required the the minority MDC faction of Arthur by Morgan Tsvangirai, was concerned power-sharing agreement to be nailed Mutambara. Nyathi won 98 votes, that convening parliament would down before any governing although the Mutambara group has undermine the ongoing negotiations institutions were constituted. only ten seats in the lower house. over whether its leader or Mugabe should wield real executive power in On August 25, a day before the In the upper house or Senate, ZANU- a power-sharing arrangement in opening of parliament, the lower PF candidate which the former would serve as house elected Lovemore Moyo of the emerged as the winner in a contest prime minister under the latter. MDC’s main faction as its speaker. for the post of chair, also held on Moyo won by 110 of the 208 votes August 25. She won 58 votes As of August 26, the protracted talks cast. One of the two missing votes — compared with the 28 received by between Mugabe and Tsvangirai had the chamber has 210 seats — , who in this case was not produced a settlement, despite an belonged to an MDC member who backed by both MDC factions.

AUGUST 27, 2008 1 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING to a halt last week when Tsvangirai speaker of the lower house put up by More than a month after the much- refused to sign the last of a series of the Tsvangirai faction, defeated the vaunted signing of the memorandum documents as it became apparent that Mutambara faction’s candidate, Paul of understanding and the start of he was to be no more than a Themba Nyathi, by 110 votes to 98 in negotiations mediated by South ceremonial prime minister in a a secret ballot held on August 25. That African president and government led by Mugabe as put paid to Mugabe’s hope of intended to last a mere two weeks, it executive president. regaining the control of parliament he appears that the opposing factions are lost in the general election. ZANU-PF no closer to reaching agreement about Mugabe’s defiant move came in the did not field a candidate for the post. who should lead the country. This will wake of a communiqué issued by a complicate the selection of a cabinet, summit of the Southern African ZANU-PF did, however, triumph in the likely to be Mugabe’s next step. Development Community, SADC, held Senate or upper house of parliament, in on August 16-17, where its candidate, Edina An analyst who requested anonymity giving him permission to convene Madzongwe, won the post of chair said the solution to the country’s parliament. later on August 25. Although the political and economic crisis was now March poll left the Senate split 50-50 in the hands of both Mugabe and between ZANU-PF and the opposition, Tsvangirai, but that the latter would be Mugabe had powers to appoint negotiating from a stronger position Mugabe moved to convene senators directly. Madzongwe won than he had in the recent past. parliament after regional with 58 votes, 30 more than her rival Gibson Sibanda, who, in this ballot, summit gave its assent. was supported by both MDC groupings. “Mutambara’s political life Commentators believe the result in the has ended… his flirtation The SADC decision trumped clause lower house will have far-reaching with Mugabe was bound to nine of the memorandum of implications. see him disgraced” – Harare understanding signed by Mugabe and the two MDC leaders on July 21, “It seems the MDC has re-united de resident Alex Dhewa. which stated that as long as talks facto,” said Alex Dhewa, a Harare continued, participants would not resident who supports Tsvangirai. “We “take any decisions or measure that must remember that the split in 2005 have a bearing on the agenda of the was engineered by a small clique. We “It can be argued that Tsvangirai now dialogue, save by consensus. Such always suspected that the rank-and- commands an absolute majority in decisions or measures include, but are file membership in did parliament and in the negotiations. not limited to the convening of not support the split. Now this has With Mutambara out of the way, parliament or the formation of a new been confirmed.” Mugabe can no longer push government.” Tsvangirai around as he has been In the negotiations over power-sharing, doing.” Analysts believe the convening of Mutambara has lent his support to the parliament was intended to pressure arrangements proposed by Mugabe, Another analyst who asked not to be Tsvangirai into signing an agreement which would relegate Tsvangirai to a named predicted that “although the that would result in a government of toothless, ceremonial role as future political impasse is set to continue, national unity. prime minister. with the economy in the state it is now, we might see a more determined Mugabe had threatened to form a Dhewa believes the leadership of the effort to conclude the inter-party government with Mutambara’s minority smaller MDC faction has been fatally talks”. faction of the MDC. ZANU-PF has 99 compromised. members of parliament and if they all Others, however, believe the task of sided with the Mutambara faction’s ten “Mutambara’s political life has ended, governing the country is about to members plus Mugabe’s former and for him to sit at the same become even more difficult, since spokesman and now independent negotiating table as Morgan Tsvangirai Mugabe could use his extensive member of parliament , and Robert Mugabe would be powers as president to overrule the 100 members of the Tsvangirai ridiculous,” he said. “What Mutambara parliament, while the ZANU-PF-led faction would be outvoted. forgot was that the people of Senate can stop the passage of Matabeleland, whom Mugabe legislation emanating from the lower However, not everything went brutalised in the 1980s, would never house. Mugabe’s way. In a shock throw their lot with ZANU-PF, so his development, Lovemore Moyo, the flirtation with Mugabe was bound to Benedict Unendoro is the pseudonym candidate for the key position of see him disgraced.” of a reporter in Zimbabwe.

2 AUGUST 27, 2008 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS TSVANGIRAI REJECTS MUGABE’S POWER-SHARING TERMS

Opposition leader not prepared to play second fiddle to Mugabe in a new government.

By Jabu Shoko in Harare

The contentious issue of who wields real power in a new government of national unity appears to be the key issue stalling negotiations for a solution to Zimbabwe’s political impasse.

Analysts said the ball was now in the court of the Southern African Development Community, SADC,

which has been leading the Credit: Lazele negotiating process. However, when Arthur Mutambara addresses a press conference at his house in Harare. Picture taken the regional grouping met in August 13. Johannesburg on August 18-19, it failed to move the negotiations on, although it did give approval for dialogue, was in total agreement with There are allegations that both ZANU- parliament to convene. proposals put forward by Mugabe and PF and the Mutambara camp his ZANU-PF, including the reneged on a draft constitution On August 25, a day before the formal appointment of Mutambara to the post agreed to by all three parties during opening of parliament, the lower house of deputy prime minister under South African president Thabo elected Lovemore Moyo of the MDC’s Tsvangirai. Mbeki’s earlier stages as the SADC- main faction as its speaker. Moyo won appointed mediator for the by 110 of the 208 votes cast. The Zimbabwean crisis. ballot result was a clear victory for the MDC. ZANU-PF did not even nominate Minority MDC faction “There has to be an injection of new a candidate, and the remaining 98 appears to back format ideas,” said Eldred Masunungure, a votes went to Paul Themba Nyathi, political scientist who has been proposed by the minority MDC faction, proposed by Mugabe. following the talks since their inception which has ten seats in the lower in July 2007. Speaking before the chamber. SADC summit took place, he said it should “take a more active role in People privy to talks claim Morgan Both Mugabe and Mutambara insisted assisting President Mbeki to resolve Tsvangirai, leader of the main faction on a five-year for the cabinet and the the impasse”. of the opposition Movement for use of the present constitution Democratic Change, MDC, has including 18 recent amendments to “Mbeki has done so much and but I rejected the post of non-executive run a government of national unity. don’t think he can unlock the current prime minister in a new government in logjam,” he added. which Robert Mugabe would retain Tsvangirai and his team of advisers, executive powers as both head of according to the sources, dug in their Mutambara told a press conference state and government. heels, insisting on a “people-driven” on August 13 that his MDC faction constitution — echoing the demand by was in agreement with Mugabe and According to the same insiders, the major civil society organisations — ZANU-PF in the negotiations. He Arthur Mutambara faction, an MDC within a two-year transition that would came short of blaming Tsvangirai for splinter group which is also eventually lead to free and fair Mbeki’s failure to clinch a deal on the participating in the SADC-sponsored elections by 2010. night of August 12.

AUGUST 27, 2008 3 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING

“At this stage in the dialogue, all the They cite Mugabe’s fixation with the 1980s, leading to the 1987 Unity issues are agreed upon between the liberation struggle and his anti- Accord — and, in effect, the end of three parties. We are in agreement on imperialism rhetoric, Tsvangirai’s trade ZAPU. everything except one aspect, just one union background and Mutambara’s aspect,” he said. being still stuck “in student politics” as “The talks were never going to be some of the dynamics that have failed smooth sailing,” added Moyo. “On this one aspect, Morgan to deliver a solution. Tsvangirai requested for some time to ZANU-PF officials are understood to go and reflect and consult and then The Mutambara faction holds ten seats be seething with anger after Mbeki come back to the process. I must in the Zimbabwe parliament, where failed to clinch a deal on the night of emphasise that three times in our they had agreed to vote with the August 12. Some observers likened a discussions, Morgan Tsvangirai was Tsvangirai faction, giving MDC a deal between Mugabe and the agreeable to that aspect. And thrice comfortable parliamentary majority. Mutambara camp at the expense of he changed his mind. In the end, he Tsvangirai to the said he wanted an opportunity to However, warned Ernest Mudzengi, reached between Front reflect and consult and then re-engage national director of the National leader and , in the process.” Constitutional Assembly, the Chief Jeremiah Chirau, Ndabaningi Mutambara faction could instead side Sithole and other signatories in the with ZANU-PF — although there has 1970s. been speculation that at least seven Mutambara accuses of the ten legislators involved would Tsvangirai of chopping and be opposed to throwing their lot in “What we are witnessing is changing in the talks. with Mugabe. Indeed, some have publicly stated they would refuse to politicians fighting for do so. positions and posts” — Ernest Mudzengi of the “The stalling of the talks was National Constitutional Mutambara said that as far as his inevitable,” said Mudzengi. “It has Assembly. faction was concerned, the aspect on never been an all-inclusive negotiation. which Tsvangirai expressed The exclusion of other stakeholders reservations was a “non-issue” which such as the civil society organisations should not have caused the talks to was a mistake. All this confirms that it “What you see happening now is that stall. was all about power-sharing between history is repeating itself,” said an three political parties. MDC insider. “When Ian Smith was “The people of Zimbabwe demand a cornered in the 1970s by the solution to their circumstances, and as “What we are witnessing is politicians intensifying liberation war, the South a political party we are trying to play fighting for positions and posts, African prime minister advised him our role in terms of providing nothing else. The way forward is to that it was time to negotiate with the leadership in pursuit of that political include everyone in finding a solution nationalists. settlement,” said Mutambara. to the crisis.” “However, Smith was stubborn; he Tsvangirai, speaking the same day, , the director of ignored the nationalists in said the MDC remained committed to Agenda, said the inclusion Mozambique and and instead participating in any meaningful and of the Mutambara camp in the talks chose to negotiate with Sithole, genuine dialogue that would urgently had presented ZANU-PF and Mugabe Muzorewa and Chief Chirau, whom he move the process forward. with many options to retain their considered black moderates. executive powers. “We are committed to a solution that “This is the similar deal that ZANU-PF ensures tangible deliverables are put “ZANU-PF went into the whole wants to sign with Mutambara, but I on the table of Zimbabweans — a mediation with plan A and plan B. Plan predict that its fate will be the same. solution that must thus put the people B is now being put into place as Most importantly, losers don’t sign first, not leadership positions and Tsvangirai is failing to play ball. The treaties.” titles,” he said. Mutambara camp fits well into ZANU- PF’s political machinations.” He was referring to Mugabe’s loss of There are concerns, say insiders, the March 29 presidential election about ideological differences between “The Mutambara leadership are which Tsvangirai won and Mutambara Tsvangirai, Mugabe and, to some emerging as the ZAPU of this did not contest. extent, Mutambara, that have made it generation,” he said, in reference to difficult for the protagonists to see the ZAPU-PF leadership that Jabu Shoko is the pseudonym of an issues in the same light. negotiated with ZANU-PF in the late IWPR journalist in Zimbabwe.

4 AUGUST 27, 2008 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS IS ARMY OBSTRUCTING TALKS?

Some say security forces may be behind current impasse in power-sharing negotiations.

By Yamikani Mwando in Bulawayo

As the power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe drag on without a solution in sight, there are indications that the country’s security chiefs could be trying to block a settlement, say observers.

Analysts fear that the influential Zimbabwean military may be being consulted during the talks and opposing Credit: Lazele the terms of any deals mooted. Zimbabwe defence forces chief Constantine Chiwenga arrives at National Heroes Acre in Harare. Picture taken August 11. While South African president Thabo Mbeki is being lauded for bringing his materialise. Then, on August 13, the The all-powerful Joint Operations Zimbabwean counterpart Robert official Herald newspaper reported Command — whose members Mugabe and opposition leader that Mugabe and Mutambara had include the heads of the army, Morgan Tsvangirai to negotiating table signed an agreement without intelligence service, the air force, the for face-to-face talks — the first for a Tsvangirai — a report denied by police and the prison service — has decade — the historic meeting has yet Mutambara’s main ally in the faction. been accused of keeping Mugabe in to deliver substantive results. power after this year’s elections, which saw his popularity ebb to its The talks, which began on August 10 lowest level since he took power in in the capital Harare, have been put Zimbabwe’s military chiefs 1980. on hold after three days in order to said to be applying give Tsvangirai time to reflect, said the pressure behind the scenes In a May 2008 report entitled South African president. at the political talks. “Negotiating Zimbabwe’s Transition”, the influential Brussels-based think- Taking part in the negotiations are tank International Crisis Group, ICG, Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, the main noted that “senior military faction of the opposition Movement for According to other reports, when a commanders strongly opposed to the Democratic Change, MDC, led by deal was close to being brokered, MDC have been instrumental in Tsvangirai, as well as the breakaway security chiefs met Mbeki to “consult” preventing a democratic transition faction headed by Arthur Mutambara. on the discussions. South African following the 29 March election”. newspaper The Star, which cited Although according to official results, anonymous sources, said that South During the March 29 elections and the Tsvangirai won the presidential poll held African mediators had met with presidential run-off, the in March, he did not secure enough Zimbabwean security chiefs, who military was accused by human rights votes to avoid a run-off with Mugabe. “wanted to ensure that their interests groups of mobilising junior officers to The opposition leader would be are catered for in any agreement conduct a terror campaign across the expected to hold executive powers in reached”. country, making it virtually impossible any political deal brokered — something for people to vote for change. Mugabe is also reportedly resisting. The Zimbabwean military continues to wield power from behind the scenes in The ICG report warned that any By last week, the talks between the the country, and has been attempts to mediate a political three leaders seemed to collapse characterised by Tsvangirai and other agreement in Zimbabwe would have to irreparably when a deal did not critics as a “military junta”. deal with the security forces,

AUGUST 27, 2008 5 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING highlighting concerns that the military the early years of the country’s Zimbabwe military had moved from remains all-powerful in the Zimbabwe independence. being public servants to political crisis. activists. An academic at the Journalism School The country’s top security bosses — of the National University of Science “In any democratic country, the role of who are veterans of the bloody war of and Technology, who spoke under the military is to protect the state and independence from Britain back in the conditions of anonymity, said the the citizens, but we have here men in 1970s — have publicly backed security chiefs could be playing power the higher echelons of the military that Mugabe in all major elections since games behind the scenes and have been politicised and publicly the emergence of the MDC. They have preventing an agreement being aligned themselves to Mugabe,” he said they expected their lower ranks reached. told IWPR. not to betray what they saw as the country’s struggle against Yet, at the same time, ordinary soldiers “imperialism” by voting for the are disgruntled with the system, he opposition. Security leaders have added. openly backed Mugabe and This week, at the commemoration of expressed hostility to the In recent years, there has been Defence Forces Day on August 12, opposition in elections in widespread unrest within the army’s Mugabe thanked the army for recent years. rank and file, which has seen mass defending the country’s “sovereignty” desertions and a poor response to and showered medals on 19 of the recruiting calls. generals who backed his re-election in the one-man presidential run-off A member of Mutambara’s faction of poll. That could explain the impasse the the MDC told IWPR that the nation is witnessing, while the public is Zimbabwean military is “always “The Zimbabwe Defence Forces have denied access to the finer details of involved in any transition” of power. demonstrated unparalleled patriotism the negotiations. However, the source refused to and professionalism in the way they elaborate on security forces’ have carried the constitutional role of “God knows who all the negotiating involvement in the present talks, defending our nation,” he said. parties consult. We can only saying he was not authorised to talk to speculate,” he said. “But they could the media. In the past, these military men have be approaching the military and said they are not ready to salute saying to them, ‘Look, this is what we “We are hoping for the best for the Tsvangirai if he were to become their are talking about — what do you country, where self-interests are put commander-in-chief. think?’ — and that could mean there is aside. We have to be careful when still a long walk towards breaking the talking about the military as this could They have much to lose. Many of the deadlock.” send the wrong signals,” he said. security chiefs stand accused by rights groups, including Amnesty Bulawayo-based political analyst Yamikani Mwando is the pseudonym International, of abuses dating back to Jethro Mpofu told IWPR that the of an IWPR journalist in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Crisis Report is information provision, It also contributes to the an initiative of IWPR-Africa’s capacity building and development of regional policy, Zimbabwe Programme. dissemination and distribution. promotes dialogue and builds This programme promotes bridges within the region. It also democratization and good The key purpose is to increase raises the Africa wide and governance with Southern Africa awareness in the Southern African international profile of Zimbabwe and contributes to the region of the Zimbabwean in the context of the region. development of a culture of situation and the implications for Importantly it also builds the skills human rights and the rule of law. regional peace, security and and capacity of the media to Focusing on Zimbabwe the economic development. reliably and accurately report programme has three core political transition, governance and components — human rights issues.

The programme is managed by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting — Africa. For further details go to www.iwpr.net

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