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Panacea to the Zimbabwean Crisis? Seeks a New Narrative for the Country

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Panacea to the Zimbabwean Crisis? Seeks a New Narrative for the Country Vol. 1 Issue 28 MARCH ............... 2019 Panacea to the Zimbabwean Crisis? TOWARDS THE NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY • DIALOGUE: GOAL AND OUTCOMES THE ESSENCE AND SKILLS OF NEGOTIATIONS • ALL PARTIES HAVE A STAKE INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE PANACEA TO ZIMBABWE’S CRISIS • WOMEN’S VOICES MATTER IS ZIMBABWE HEADED FOR SECOND GPA? • LET’S TACKLE THE ROOT CAUSE As Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political form, content, course and actions the envisaged Without visionary leadership, Zimbabwe will environment continues to deteriorate, there dialogue should take. remain barren, living far beneath its potential are increasing calls for a broad-based and as the ruling elite line up and stampede to deep inclusive National Dialogue to rescue Zimbabwe Zimbabwe and her people envisage a leadership their fingers into the national treasury at a from the precipice and avert its implosion. that is responsive to the country’s desperate time when children and expecting mothers are plight for socio-economic and political stability dying in hospitals due to lack of medication. The crescendo in the calls for dialogue among critical to leapfrogging the country into a all the national stakeholders come in the wake durable and sustainable orbit of prosperity and Zimbabwe should rise beyond the petty polity of an increasingly restless citizenry struggling development. It is deplorable to note that the of personalities and kick-start a genuine national to make ends meet resulting in the violent country has never gone for more than a decade dialogue process that takes the country forward. protests, demonstrations and lootings that tore without plunging into strife, which has stifled the country in August 2018 and this year development and its ability to fend for its While the views and opinions expressed in this in January. own citizens. edition do not reflect the position of the publishers of Thinking Beyond, in their articles Regrettably, lives were lost as the army was Suffice to note that the country has great contributors to this edition, proffer their ideas deployed to quell the demonstrations, sparking potential to unlock development and economic on issues critical to the dialogue such as: local, regional and international outrage on the growth, through visionary leadership. A disproportionate use of force against unarmed leadership which sees beyond narrow personal • Setting the agenda: what are the issues and civilians by security personnel. gains and is subservient to the ethos of servant why they should be subjected to national leadership to deliver the country from the discourse. This also comes on the backdrop of the findings current yoke of poverty, unemployment, biting • Who are the key players/stakeholders and recommendations of the Motlanthe economic crisis, run-away inflation and and why? Commission of Inquiry into the August 2018 failing industry. • How do you ensure inclusivity: who gets killings of six civilians of which the army was invited to the table. blamed for the deaths. Zimbabwe has a health mix of minerals, fertile • Who should be entrusted with the lands for agriculture, conducive climatic mediation process and why. These unfolding events, notwithstanding the environment that lures tourists from across the • The role of SADC, African Union, United stalled pace of the envisaged economic and globe coupled with a culture of hard working Nations and the international community. political reforms and the disputed 2018 citizens which are critical ingredients for • Conflict resolution: role and mandate of presidential elections outcome, have placed successful economies. political parties, business, civic society, Zimbabwe at the crossroads hence the increasing church/women’s groups, youths. calls for genuine national dialogue. However, there is a glaring deficiency in • Lowering the political temperatures: the leadership that is catalytic in pulling the feuding media and conflict sensitive journalism. Our theme for this edition of Thinking Beyond: stakeholders to the negotiation table and write • Gender and National Dialogue: the issues. Dialogue: Panacea to the Zimbabwean Crisis? seeks a new narrative for the country. to generate ideas and debate on the shape, ii MARCH 2019 Towards the National Transitional Authority IBBO MANDAZA & TONY REELER claims political power by virtue of the disputed 2018 elections. The MDC- Introduction: of a constitutional order, but also a heavily Alliance claims political power by virtue disputed presidential election. There is of being the majority party in reality. In 2016, the Platform for Concerned consequently continuing political and social Citizens (PCC) warned that the country unrest in which, since 1 August 2018 to Secondly, the Zimbabwean NTA does not was heading into deep trouble and a the present, at least 23 citizens killed, have to produce a constitution as part of possible coup. This was the only possible scores injured, many abducted, a number its work. Zimbabwe has a highly operable outcome for the disintegrating securocrat of women raped, and the apparent sense constitution, a sitting parliament, and a state. of permanent siege against the opposition functioning judicial system. Since all these and civic society. are in place, there will be no need for In 2019, we now have a dysfunctional state, complex negotiations about a constitution made worse by a crisis of illegitimacy, and - The compelling evidence, therefore, that and the nature of the state. in desperate need for re-engagement with there is a Party/State Conflation that has the international community. This re- lost the people, with little or no hope of Constitutional arrangements: engagement grows more remote by the recovery in the foreseeable future. day with reports of gross human rights Since the Constitution remains in force, proliferating, prompting some to term - The compelling and urgent need for an and, remembering the GPA, the these crimes against humanity. agency (the NTA): This will provide the constitutional basis for the NTA is relatively basis through which constitutional rule simple. The legal basis for the NTA will Underpinning all of this is infighting within and the requisite separation of powers require the suspension of Chapter 5 (Parts the state and party that seems without restored, characterized by an accountable 1 & 2) and its replacement by a Schedule end, going on since 2013. It is now executive, a vibrant legislature and a outlining the powers of a Transitional common cause that the state and party has fiercely independent judiciary. Thus, Executive Council (TEC). This TEC would completely lost the consensus and confidence, at home and in the Diaspora, be time-limited, but, given the depth of confidence of the citizenry, and is incapable will be restored and re-engagement with the problems facing Zimbabwe, would of either political or economic reform. the global community can take place, probably need at least two years in order We now have the hard landing that the without which the Economic Recovery to implement the reforms, and a “rescue PCC tried to avoid in 2016 by calling for Programme cannot succeed package” to take effect. a soft landing and a National Transitional Authority (NTA). It seems obvious in all the discussion about There will undoubtedly be those that will a national dialogue that there must be an object, as they have done in the past, to Why the NTA? end goal. In the current crisis, a national any suggestion of amending the dialogue cannot be merely a talk shop. All constitution, but the point here is that the This state of affairs is the reason for the who are talking about the national dialogue only amendment envisaged will be to the calls for a national dialogue and a NTA. clearly are thinking about a process that clauses on the Executive. This will be Accordingly, the NTA is urgent because resolves the legitimacy crisis, initiates a temporary, for the duration of the NTA, of the following factors: substantial process of reforms, and takes and will be necessary. We can all remember the country through to an undisputed the problems of the GPA and the manner - A dysfunctional Party/State Conflation: election. in which the Executive was able to block this is incapable of reform (except at the all reforms. risk of involuntary abdication), neither There are two important points to bear in politically nor economically. mind here. Legislative arrangements: - The burden of an incurable Illegitimacy Firstly, neither of the political parties wants Parliament remains in place as currently : this is exacerbated not only by the absence to give up political power. ZANU-PF constituted, since their role of oversight MARCH 2019 1 there should be monitoring bodies, one per ministry, with members each chosen from civil society and the churches. The aim behind monitoring is to ensure that there is the greatest possible confidence in the NTA from a citizenry that is both deeply divided as well as distrustful of government. A critical step for building confidence will be the disbanding of JOC, and its replacement by the National Security Council (NSC), as already required by the Constitution. The two TEC leaders, with church, business and civil society representation, should chair the NSC. and legislative powers will be critical for the country forward. Here it will be critical the implementing of the Constitution, to ensure separation of powers. The TEC, Finally, there needs to be the setting up of amending past laws and instituting new as the Executive, will be accountable to a policy unit under the TEC. law, and authorising policies. Parliament parliament, and the legislature will have will have such an important role during the very important role of holding the Guiding principles for policy: the transition in its general oversight Executive to account. function, most particularly if it can We have stated the guiding principles many demonstrate to the citizenry that Additionally, there should be support from times before in the past three years, and parliamentarians can work together in the an advisory body.
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