ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS

OCTOBER 10, 2008 Fresh insights into the Zimbabwean situation

MUGABE UNITY CLAIMS RING HOLLOW

Analysts unconvinced by insistence that there’s no deadlock over unity government.

By Mike Nyoni in Harare

President Robert Mugabe returned from the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on September 29, promising an inclusive government in Zimbabwe, but commentators aren’t counting on it.

A number of analysts pointed out too many areas of conflict between Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Credit: Lazele Democratic Change, MDC, for the ZANU-PF supporters sing outside the Harare hotel where the signing ceremony took two to work closely together even place. Pic 15/09/2008 after the formation of a unity government. Analysts say there are too The two parties, together with the many areas of conflict smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mugabe was expected to announce Mutambara, signed an agreement on a long-delayed cabinet at the start between the political rivals September 15 to form a government in of October and denied there was a for them to work closely which Mugabe remains president, deadlock in the negotiations over together. Tsvangirai is prime minister and the key ministries of finance, home Mutambara is one of his two deputies. and foreign affairs and defence between his ZANU-PF and In a speech delivered at Harare Tsvangirai’s MDC. International Airport on his return from

NEWS IN BRIEF Zimbabwe’s main parties are no closer following disputed elections earlier in the crisis, ZANU-PF maintains that no to reaching an agreement on forming a the year. outside help is necessary. national unity government following However, they have failed to agree Former South African president Thabo their latest talks on October 7, said an on forming a cabinet. Mbeki — who helped broker the power- opposition spokesman. “We feel that we should have an sharing deal — has agreed to assist “Our negotiating teams met for two equal sharing of key positions and negotiations. hours today, but sadly, we are still in [ruling party] ZANU-PF feel they need to Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma — the head different worlds in a fundamental way,” take all important ministries. That is the of South Africa’s ruling party, and said the MDC’s Nelson Chamisa in an cause of the deadlock,” said Chamisa, in Mbeki’s long-standing rival — pressed AFP report. the AFP report. both parties to try and resolve their Rivals President Robert Mugabe The spokesman accused Mugabe’s differences. and opposition Movement for party of trying to maintain the status quo “They just have to negotiate with Democratic Change, MDC, leader by retaining control of key ministries. themselves and find a solution,” said Morgan Tsvangirai signed a power- Although the MDC wants regional Zuma, in an interview on South African sharing deal on September 15, mediators to intervene to help resolve radio station SA FM.

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New York, Mugabe talked of an which he called for the lifting of ‘illegal power to protect his cronies. They will inclusive government but also sanctions’ and said he did not want also not want to have terms dictated to launched a broadside against the foreign interference in Zimbabwe’s them by those they still view with MDC’s key policy positions. internal affairs.” suspicion as agents of the West.”

He said there would never be a The US, Australia and the EU have Another analyst also noted as a point reversal of his disastrous land reform expressed reservations about the of difference Mugabe’s and programme and that no white agreement between ZANU-PF and the Tsvangirai’s attitude towards the commercial farmers who had left the two MDC factions, saying that by International Monetary Fund, IMF. country in the past decade would be leaving Mugabe as president it failed allowed to return to farm again. to respect the will of the people as While Tsvangirai and the MDC have expressed in the March 29 elections in called for close cooperation with the More fundamentally, he reiterated his which Tsvangirai outpolled Mugabe. IMF and other multilateral lenders to government’s position that Britain, as kick-start economic recovery, the former colonial power, should pay Mugabe’s focus has been on China compensation to white commercial and Russia, who recently repaid him farmers who had lost their land “It is clear that Mugabe by blocking a UN Security Council through expropriations starting in will do everything in his resolution by Britain and the US to 2000. power to protect his impose more universal sanctions. cronies,” said one analyst. In part blaming his partners in the “That will also cause problems in inclusive government, Mugabe said terms of international relations and the opposition should call for the how Zimbabwe goes about seeking removal of sanctions. Of the agreement, they have said they reintegration into the international will need to study it more closely and community,” said the analyst. “That is “We want the same noise now from observe its implementation before they why the MDC is keen to control the them [the MDC] for the removal [of can decide on any financial assistance foreign affairs portfolio — so they can sanctions] as there was when they to revive Zimbabwe’s stricken speak the language investors will blew trumpets for sanctions to be economy, where inflation is over 11 understand. imposed,” he said. million per cent, formal unemployment more than 80 per cent and there are “Closer to home, there will be more Analysts, who were reluctant to be widespread shortages of basic squabbles between the two over identified considering the delicate commodities and fuel. Mugabe’s indigenisation policies state of the unity talks, said such which will continue to scare away reckless rhetoric was likely to sour and At the airport, Mugabe denied investors,” he said. “Remember, the strain relations between the coalition speculation that there were problems Empowerment and Indigenisation Act, partners. between himself and Tsvangirai over which seeks to expropriate foreign- key ministerial portfolios, “We never owned mines, is not dead yet. It is a They said although the power-sharing said there was a deadlock, so we will scary piece of legislation from the agreement called for the lifting of be setting up government before the point of view of investor confidence targeted sanctions imposed by the end of the week.” and property rights in the country. United States, Australia, Canada and the European Union on Mugabe and There is also talk of Mugabe facing “Then of course there is the vexed his close associates, it was in bad resistance from senior officials and issue of ‘national healing’, which is not taste and against the spirit of the talks ministers in his party who say he has clearly defined in the agreement.” for Mugabe to directly attack those conceded Tsvangirai too much power. who wanted pressure exerted on the Tsvangirai is going to have problems government at the height of political The analysts said Mugabe’s statement here convincing victims of violence tension in the country over violence on land also went against the spirit of that all is forgiven without a truth and and other forms of human rights the unity agreement, in which the reconciliation commission. This will violations. parties determined to carry out a land certainly be seen as entrenching a audit to stamp out multiple farm culture of impunity, which has become “Mugabe clearly has not changed his ownership. That proposal was a direct the hallmark of Mugabe’s rule. A rhetoric and that was very clear in his attack on security, military and other blanket amnesty is a hard-sell so soon speech to his supporters at the senior ZANU-PF officials, most of after the violence which accompanied airport,” said one of the analysts. whom are rumoured to own up to five Mugabe’s sham run-off election on farms each. June 27. “This was clearly a continuation of his attack on the United States and Britain “It is clear,” said one analyst, “that Mike Nyoni is the pseudonym of an in his address at the United Nations in Mugabe will do everything in his IWPR journalist in Zimbabwe.

2 OCTOBER 10, 2008 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS NEW CRACKDOWN ON WHITE FARMERS

Since historic political settlement was signed, a wave of forced evictions has been reported.

By Chipo Sithole in Harare

White farmers in Zimbabwe say that since a power-sharing deal between the ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, was signed, many have come under renewed pressure to leave their land.

The Commercial Farmers Union, CFU — a grouping of white farmers — said that military officials and self-styled Credit: Lazele former guerrillas of Zimbabwe’s war of Children pass some empty stands at the Harare agricultural show. Recent farms invasions were largely blamed for the low turnout there. Pic 29 August 2008 independence invaded 42 more white- owned farms within hours of the agreement being signed between sharing agreement,” CFU president Dhewa, a businessman and political President Robert Mugabe and MDC Doug Taylor-Freeme told IWPR. analyst. leader Morgan Tsvangirai on September 15. Since the onset of Mugabe’s land “The target obviously would be the invasions in 2000 — when land owned remaining white farmers.” “Since [then], there has been an by white farmers was confiscated and increased number of disruptions on given to poor black Zimbabweans and John Worswick, head of white farmers’ farms, with new alleged beneficiaries political supporters — only about 280 pressure group, Justice for Agriculture, arriving on many properties and of an original 4,500 white commercial JAG, agrees that there would appear claiming immediate access to the farmers remain on their farms. to be a last-ditch attempt to remove homesteads and crop lands, despite those few white farmers still on their the fact there is no vacant possession land. [right to possess land in which there is no current occupant],” said a CFU White farmers in Zimbabwe “At the moment, no remaining farmer report covering the period from say they have come under appears to be safe from... what September 17 to 19. appears to be a final clean-up of any increased pressure to leave remaining white-owned land in The report also noted that there has their land since historic Zimbabwe,” said Worswick. been an upsurge in the number of power-sharing deal was prosecutions for alleged offences signed. “Although considering there has not under the Gazetted Land been an active government for six (Consequential Provisions) Act, months, the legality of [the seizures] is which was passed in December questionable, they are having a huge 2006, and makes it illegal for a Observers say that ZANU-PF destabilising effect on confidence and farmer to remain on a farm listed for hardliners now appear to be trying to hence production.” acquisition. In the Rotten Row Court seize the remaining farms before a in Harare, four white farmers face new government is formed following Zimbabwe has been without a prosecution under the act for defying the political settlement. government since March, when orders to hand over their farms to Tsvangirai won the first round of the black settlers. “It would seem the intention is to grab presidential election, but fell short of the farms before the announcement of an absolute majority. Mugabe later “All [court] summonses were issued the new all-inclusive government, won a controversial June 27 after the signing of the recent power- which might be very soon,” said Alex presidential runoff unopposed after

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Tsvangirai withdrew, citing state- As head of JAG, Worswick is informed of Zimbabwe’s deputy foreign affairs sponsored violence against his of all new farm seizures, and he said minister Reuben Marumahoko in supporters. even farms covered by Bilateral halting further farm seizures. Investment Promotion and Protection Following the elections, Mugabe, who Agreements, BIPPAS, were being It makes reference to the south- has led Zimbabwe since invaded in the latest round of evictions. eastern lowveld of the country where independence from Britain in 1980, BIPPAS are government-to-government South African conglomerate Tongaat has been forced to share power with agreements, which ensure that citizens Hullet owns vast sugar cane rivals under pressure from an of one country who invest in another plantations which are reportedly under imploding economy. are protected by the host government siege by ZANU-PF militants. from any form of harassment. Under The president insisted on safeguards these, their investments are supposed Digby Nesbitt, a farmer from that area, in the power-sharing agreement he to be immune to seizures. who grows seed cane for the South has entered with the opposition, African company’s sugar mill, said he designed to ensure that his land Observers say a further threat to white was struggling to head off his eviction reforms are irreversible. For example, productive farmers could come from by Assistant Police Commisioner Article V, Clause 5.5 deals with “the Mugabe’s promise during a speech on Edmore Veterai. irreversibility of... land acquisitions and September 11 to give land to those redistribution”. traditional chiefs who had so far not Nesbitt told IWPR that he has been benefited from the land reform under siege from Veterai — who is The Mugabe government has long programme. already in contempt of three court claimed that the opposition, which it orders to vacate Nesbitt’s farm, as well frequently accuses of being a puppet as an interim relief order granted by of former colonial power Britain, was “The farm seizures amount the Southern African Development planning to reverse the changes in Community, SADC, tribunal in land ownership in the country if it to ethnic cleansing, pure and Windhoek, Namibia. seized power. simple,” said one farmer. Sitting around a green-baize card However, the agreement also says that table in the Harare Club, Nesbitt — the parties agree to “conduct a who had come to the capital to seek comprehensive, transparent and non- The chiefs have mobilised support for government intervention — said he partisan land audit... for the purpose Mugabe in the rural areas. could find little cause for optimism. of establishing accountability and eliminating multiple-farm ownerships”. “All [of these factors] are having a Yet the farmer, who has lived in detrimental effect on the already Zimbabwe for decades, said he was Yet senior officials in his government reduced level of production of resolute that he will not move an inch and in the army, who benefited strategic crops this forthcoming from his farm where he runs an immensely through his patronage season — which in fact is already orphanage for disadvantaged children. networks, are staunchly opposed to the upon us,” said Worswick. power-sharing deal, which they fear A fellow white farmer, who preferred to could reverse the land redistribution A shortfall in the harvest can only do remain anonymous, said he thought programme. Farmers suspect them of more damage to Zimbabwe’s economy, the reported seizures were an attempt leading the latest invasions. which has been on a downward spiral to grab land before the new since the turn of the decade when government comes in. Worswick said he believed that recent Mugabe first launched his controversial evictions were planned by a clique of land-reform programme. “I even doubt the authenticity of the ZANU-PF hardliners — rather than offer letters [the invaders] are initiated through official channels — as There is now diplomatic pressure to brandishing. We have it on good one of the invaders reportedly turned end the seizures of the remaining authority that the last offer letters were up with an offer letter apparently white-owned farms. issued at [the ZANU-PF national signed by a minister and dated congress in] Goromonzi in December September 2. IWPR has seen a diplomatic note sent 2006. So these offer letters they have by the South African embassy in are fake,” he said. Because the government declared two Harare to the Zimbabwe government, years ago that farm seizures were at and copied to Police Commissioner- “This is ethnic cleansing, pure and an end, offer letters — in which the General Augustine Chihuri. simple,” said another farmer, who ministry offers farmland to prospective declined to be named. black farmers, who then use these The note reveals that South African offers to force white farmers off their ambassador to Zimbabwe Mlungisi Chipo Sithole is the pseudonym of an land — issued after 2006 are suspect. Mkhalima has sought the intervention IWPR journalist in Zimbabwe.

4 OCTOBER 10, 2008 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS POWER-SHARING DELAYS

Mugabe and his ZANU-PF demanding to hold onto key portfolios, despite provision in agreement for sharing them equally.

By Chipo Sithole in Harare

More than two weeks after President Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara signed a power- sharing deal on September 15, they have yet to agree on how power should actually be shared.

Patrick Chinamasa, minister of justice, Credit: Lazele legal and parliamentary affairs in the Movement for Democratic Change supporters sing and dance, denouncing ZANU-PF, previous cabinet, has said the new outside the venue where the power-sharing deal was signed. 15 September 2008 government will not be formed until the Constitution Amendment No 19 Bill contains no time frame for make war, declare martial law and has been enacted. But he said the implementation of the provisions of the dissolve parliament, while Tsvangirai, proposed legislation will only be accord — apart from the 18-month as prime minister, will run the tabled when parliament meets in deadline for the finalisation of a new government, inheriting a bankrupt and November. Meanwhile, it is not clear constitution. corrupt system built on cronyism and whether the bill has yet been drafted illegal foreign-currency trading. and approved by the three parties to Meetings between the two political the agreement. gladiators to agree a new cabinet have ended in failure. Despite the fact that the agreement includes a clause In terms of the deal, stating that the important ministries Mugabe remains president, “We all know what real should be shared equally between the participating parties, Mugabe and his with overwhelming power-sharing looks like. ZANU-PF are demanding to hold onto executive powers, including You can’t give one side the key portfolios of finance, defence, the right to make war, ministry of finance and the home affairs, local government and declare martial law and foreign affairs. other ministry of goats,” dissolve parliament. said one senior African As one senior African diplomat put it, diplomat. “We all know what real power-sharing looks like. You can’t give one side ministry of finance and the other The deal also splits executive authority However, IWPR understands that the ministry of goats.” between Tsvangirai and Mugabe, prime minister-designate Morgan allowing the MDC leader to sit in on Tsvangirai, the leader of the main MDC Mugabe, who returned on September meetings of the newly formed National faction, may be appointed under the 29 from New York, where he attended Security Council, a think-tank of army present constitution and allocated his the UN General Assembly, has been generals previously called the Joint duties by Mugabe. castigated for undermining the Operations Command. negotiations. In view of the numerous delays and It remains to be seen whether this the government hiatus since the March In terms of the deal, he remains arrangement is workable, given the elections, analysts says they are president, with overwhelming fact that the generals have not hidden astonished that the agreement executive powers including the right to their hostility to the power-sharing

OCTOBER 10, 2008 5 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING deal. According to a senior ZANU-PF the houses vote to suspend the November,” said Val Ingham Thorpe, source, they boycotted the signing standing orders, the bill could be fast- of the legal service, Veritas. ceremony and mobilised a revolt tracked in four days. against Mugabe in the central While squabbling over the allocation of committee meeting held in Harare on ministries appears to be inevitable, September 24. some civil society activists are Some civil society activists angered by the size of the cabinet. There are three main reasons why are angered by the size of They say the current composition of 46 procedural requirements for a the cabinet, saying the ministers plus their deputies is constitutional bill are cumbersome and wasteful. may delay the installation of the current composition of 46 cabinet. ministers plus their Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional deputies is wasteful. lawyer and chairman of the National A constitutional amendment must be Constitutional Assembly, argues that gazetted 30 days before its instead of the hundreds of thousands introduction into parliament. This has of US dollars spent on hefty salaries not yet happened. The bill must then be printed in its final and perks for unnecessary ministers, form and sent to the president for the money should be used to re- The relevant parliamentary portfolio assent, steps which could be house the hundreds of thousands who committee may consider the bill for 14 completed within two or three days. were displaced by the state- business days. The final step is publication in the sanctioned crackdown on the MDC Government Gazette — official prior to the June 27 presidential run- The constitutional amendment must be confirmation of the new law. off election. passed by both houses of parliament, a procedure which normally takes at “The shortest possible time in which Chipo Sithole is the pseudonym of an least a week in each house, though if the bill could become law is early 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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