ATTEMPTS TO restore the rule of law and democratic rights in Zimbabwe have failed thus far, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai has admitted.
Mr Tsvangirai, whose party agreed to join a coalition government with President Robert Mugabe last February, made his assessment of the state of the three-month-old powersharing arrangement at his party’s annual convention on Saturday.
“We have not yet succeeded in restoring the rule of law . . . our people do not live free from fear, hunger and poverty,” he told about 1,000 delegates sporting red T-shirts emblazoned with the party slogan: “Together to the end. Marching to a new Zimbabwe.”
Mr Tsvangirai went on to say the official state media was still biased towards Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF, and there was only limited freedom of movement and expression.
“Our members continue to be the victims of political persecution,” Mr Tsvangirai said before adding: “That society for which we are striving bears little resemblance to the reality in which all of us live today.”
Despite the MDC and Zanu-PF signing up to the powersharing deal backed by the South African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, it appears Mr Mugabe’s party – in power since 1980 – is struggling to adjust to the reality of a new inclusive government.
Two weeks ago Mr Tsvangirai announced tough licensing rules for local media. He also lifted restrictions on foreign journalists entering Zimbabwe, but less than a week later a spokesperson for Mr Mugabe warned that the media restrictions remained in place.
A new wave of farm invasions has also occurred over the past few weeks, with an estimated 150 of the remaining 350 white-owned commercial farms being targeted by men loyal to Zanu-PF.
Before Mr Mugabe launched his controversial land reform policy in 2000 there were more than 4,000 white farmers working the land in the country, which was known as the “bread basket of Africa”.
The two leaders are also in dispute over the appointments of central bank governor Gideon Gono and attorney general Johannes Tomana.
Mr Mugabe reappointed Mr Gono, known as his private banker, to a second five-year term as governor of the Reserve Bank last November even though he is widely seen as responsible for crippling the country with his economic policies.
The 85-year-old also chose Mr Tomana to be the attorney general despite his involvement in the harassment of human rights activists and MDC supporters.
The MDC says the appointments are major obstacles to securing the foreign investment needed to kick-start the economy. The former opposition party has repeatedly called for both men to stand down, but Mr Mugabe has insisted this will not happen.
As a result the MDC has made an appeal to SADC to intervene, saying the reappointments were illegal as they needed to be unanimously agreed by the unity governments’ three parties: Zanu-PF, the MDC and an MDC breakaway faction.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has released a new report that stated Zimbabwe needs $718 million in aid to stave off hunger for six million people, the majority of whom are facing a “staggering” humanitarian crisis.
“There is the concern that, unless conditions change, outbreaks of water-borne diseases at the onset of the next rainy season could lead to new cholera cases and higher humanitarian needs,” according to the report. Nearly 100,000 Zimbabweans have been infected with cholera since last August. The outbreak has led to more than 4,000 recorded deaths to date.
A Zimbabwean court yesterday dismissed charges against a leading human rights lawyer accused of obstructing the course of justice, a defence attorney said.
The lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, was part of a legal team representing political activists.