ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS Issue 24 MARCH 2008 Fresh insights into the Zimbabwean situation OPPOSITION PRONOUNCES DEATH OF TALKS WITH RULING PARTY While the Movement for Democratic Change blames the authorities for derailing negotiations, some observers say the opposition should be focusing on election campaigning rather than fighting unwinnable battles. By Meshack Ndodana in Harare Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, has formally declared that its talks with the ruling ZANU-PF have failed. At a February 21 press conference in Credit: Lazele Johannesburg, both factions of the MDC chairman Morgan Tsvangirai addresses the press at party headquarters in Harare. MDC made it clear the mediation Picture taken in April 2007. process, led by South African president Robert Mugabe on behalf of The MDC formally declared President Robert Mugabe on January the Southern African Development the talks dead because the 25 unilaterally proclaimed March 29 as Community, SADC, had died a death the date for presidential, parliamentary because of the Zimbabwean March election date had and local elections. government’s preemptive move to call derailed attempts to ensure elections before measures to ensure a free and fair vote. The negotiations were initiated by the they were free and fair could be put in SADC in March last year to ease place. political tensions between ZANU-PF and the MDC and to try to reverse Although the election date was the Zimbabwe’s eight-year economic subject of the SADC-led negotiations, decline. NEWS IN BRIEF Zimbabwean presidential hopeful a rally aimed at boosting support surgical operations due to a lack of Simba Makoni said on February 25 before elections next month. anaesthetics and equipment as the he would not form a coalition with country’s general economic the main faction of the opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has breakdown worsens. Movement for Democratic Change, launched his faction’s campaign MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai. He programme, which will see him The state broadcaster has stopped has, however, already formed a criss-cross the country until election carrying radio and television public- loose alliance with the other MDC day on March 29. service spots produced by the faction, led by Arthur Mutambara. Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Zimbabwe’s biggest state-run a civil society group which deployed President Robert Mugabe celebrated hospital, Parirenyatwa hospital in thousands of election monitors in the his 84th birthday on February 23 at Harare, has stopped performing 2005 general election. MARCH 2008 1 THE INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING The secretary-generals of the two The request for a delay was brushed failed to produce tangible results in MDC factions, Welshman Ncube and aside by Mugabe, who said the MDC terms of creating a conducive Tendai Biti, who led their respective had known as early as last year that the atmosphere for free and fair delegations in the negotiations, said in elections were scheduled for March. He elections.” a joint statement that the election date said the opposition was preoccupied “lay at the heart of the deadlock” in with internal rivalries, and was seeking Political analysts who spoke to IWPR the talks with ZANU-PF. to shift the blame for its lack of criticised the MDC for expending so preparedness onto the government. much energy on matters that were The MDC said ZANU-PF had already impossible to change, such as “reneged” on a number of transitional the election date. mechanisms that had been agreed at the talks, while Mugabe’s One commentator based at the announcement of a firm date was a President Mugabe accused University of Zimbabwe said the sign the party had “repudiated the the MDC of using the opposition needed to get into gear principles and the spirit of the election date as a pretext and prepare for the elections. dialogue”. to divert attention from its “At the core of the deadlock were own lack of preparedness. issues of the date of the election, the time-frame for the implementation of Best thing for MDC is now the agreed reforms, and the process to mount “a vigorous and manner of the making and The MDC said Mbeki met Mugabe in campaign” for the election enactment of a new constitution,” said Zimbabwe as late as January 15 to try the statement. to break the deadlock over the — Harare-based analyst. election date, including a proposal to push back the elections to as late as 2010. Mugabe is said to have rejected this, insisting the election date was “The best they can do for themselves ZANU-PF has “repudiated “non-negotiable”. He also rejected the is to mount a vigorous campaign for the principles and the spirit idea of a new constitution, which the their supporters to vote,” said the of the dialogue” — MDC MDC had said should be in place analyst, who did not want to be statement before the elections to level the named. He said it would be “suicidal” playing field. for the MDC to contemplate a boycott this late in the day, pointed out that “there are already other smaller parties and individuals ready to take the During the talks, the two sides had MDC’s place”. reached agreement on amendments MDC to take part in the to electoral, security and media ballot under protest. Another political analyst said the MDC laws, a draft constitution, and issues should be focusing on the electoral to do with violence, sanctions, land, process and specifically the and food aid. The MDC had called “command centre” in charge of for the elections to be put off to a running the ballot. later date to allow these The statement made clear that the arrangements to take root and gain MDC would participate in the “This is where the results will be public acceptance. elections, but only under protest, and decided,” he said. “The MDC is concluded by warning, “Tragically, the wasting time focusing on dates and This view stands in stark contrast to results of the... elections will be talks which have already failed. The Mbeki’s claim that the date was a contested.” voting will be done in Zimbabwe and peripheral procedural matter. In the that is where rigging will takes place if opposition’s view, the timing of the The MDC’s scathing comments came the opposition loses its focus.” election and the reforms that should as the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, precede it were “not matters of ZCA, a network of church and civic The two MDC factions had, he said, procedure but of substance”, as bodies, announced that it had lost “weakened their position and holding the vote too early would hope in the talks. squandered public sympathy by failing prevent other agreements being to unite to fight a single common implemented, and consequently “the The ZCA blamed the failure of the enemy”. dialogue would therefore not have talks on what it called “a lack of clear resulted in the resolution of the objectives and accountability on the Meshack Ndodana is the pseudonym Zimbabwe crisis”. part of those involved. The SADC talks of an IWPR contributor in Harare. 2 ISSUE 24 ZIMBABWE CRISIS REPORTS MUGABE DEFIES DOWNFALL PROPHECIES President continues to confound those who believe the odds are stacked against him remaining in office much longer. By Nonthando Bhebhe in Harare While the vast majority of Zimbabweans are struggling to survive, President Robert Mugabe still has a strong support base which is willing to risk everything, including their lives and businesses, to ensure that the octogenarian leader remains in power. Credit: Lazele Delegates at the ZANU-PF congress sing the praises of President Mugabe. Though many have prophesised his Picture taken December 14. imminent demise, Mugabe has remained resolute and continues to officials suspected of favouring his “There is a realistic chance that defy conventional political wisdom. ouster have risked alienation from someone among the delegates or one grassroots supporters, who see them of the provinces could come up with a Predicting Mugabe’s downfall is a risky as traitors trying to destroy the proposal that he remains the party’s business. When many people, liberation movement party. presidential candidate,” said Mutasa. including local and international “He has done so many wonderful observers, thought he had lost control Many people have wondered why and things for this country and its majority of his party and would not be how Mugabe has continued to survive, population and he is not showing any endorsed as its presidential candidate considering the country’s deepening signs of tiredness. So if it is raised, as in next month’s elections, he has poverty and economic crisis. I am sure it will be, why not?” proved that he still had unwavering support from his comrades. That is the general feeling among Mugabe’s staunch supporters, who are Constitutional lawyer Lovemore quick to laugh off any suggestions that Madhuku told IWPR that Mugabe’s Best thing for MDC is now this election might signal the end of supporters were not imaginary. to mount “a vigorous his 28-year rule. “Mugabe still has a lot of supporters campaign” for the election But what has he done to make his and if you look at the election trend, — Harare-based analyst. supporters want to declare him life you will find that he has maintained the president? same number over the last three elections. I also meet with [the ruling Mugabe has created so much fear party] ZANU-PF — he has a lot of among his people that no one has the supporters, like it or not. The support Didymus Mutasa, the powerful national guts to stand up to him face-to-face.