ZIMBABWE’S RIVAL political leaders displayed a rare united front this week by jointly urging their supporters to steer clear of using violence to achieve their political goals ahead of elections expected to take place next year.
The coalition government, formed in February 2009 as a way to get around disputed presidential elections, has become increasingly ineffective over the past year due to infighting between president Robert Mugabe and prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Both men have reportedly not even been on speaking terms for six months due to their inability to agree on how key elements of the powersharing deal should be implemented.
However, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai told a press briefing in Harare on Monday that despite their difficulties, they would continue to work together for the lifetime of the deal. “We are from different political parties and we go for each other at a political level. We have differences but let it not be said because of that, we are dysfunctional,” Mr Mugabe, flanked by Mr Tsvangirai, told journalists.
“What we would want to get to people is our voice and command that there should be no violence, but that does not mean that everybody will listen to us. You [the media] play a major role, please play that role by preaching peace, peace.”
They said a referendum on a new constitution would take place ahead of any elections next year, although no date was given as to when either poll would occur.
Prior to that announcement, Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party had insisted a new constitution was not a prerequisite for new elections. His rivals insist it is because the constitution has been amended 19 times over the years to help Mr Mugabe stay in power. To date, the constitutional reform process has been marred by violence and intimidation, and has ground to a halt without a satisfactory input from the public, according to civil society groups monitoring it.
Both men are likely to clash in the months ahead over whether a general election should be held at the same time as a presidential poll. Mr Tsvangirai and most MPs from both parties are said to be against a general election taking place because it would come before their five-year term, which started in 2008, has come to an end and would be a drain on their resources. Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change holds a slim parliamentary majority, which is an additional reason to oppose such a move.
Mr Mugabe said at the weekend that failing to hold general elections at the same time as a presidential poll would be “nonsense”.
It has been claimed that Mr Mugabe is keen for both elections to take place simultaneously so his Zanu-PF MPs are tied into taking part in a new poll, as he does not believe he will get their full support otherwise.