“There should be no movement on the concerns of the MDC formations without corresponding and simultaneous redress of ZANU PF’s concerns such as the illegal Western sanctions, Western-funded pirate radio broadcasts and Western interference in Zimbabwean internal politics through the funding of parallel government structures,” read part of the resolutions adopted by Mugabe’s party last Saturday.
The resolutions announced by ZANU PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa appear to put Mugabe’s party on a collision course with South African President Jacob Zuma who took over the mediation role from former president Thabo Mbeki and has demonstrated that he wants the power-sharing negotiations concluded urgently.
ZANU PF’s call on Zuma to be patient with Zimbabwe’s political crisis and to understand that the parties have “delicate, sensitive fundamental concerns that cannot be resolved overnight” appears to reveal the party’s displeasure with Zuma’s approach to the outstanding issues.
Zuma has already appointed a new three-member facilitation team headed by Zuma’s political adviser Charles Nqakula and including special envoy Mac Maharaj and the president’s international relations adviser Lindiwe Zulu.
In another resolution that appears clearly aimed at Zuma’s ear, the party said “no foreigners, individuals, corporates or national (sic) in whatever capacity or any from time to time find themselves involved in aspects of Zimbabwe’s bilateral disputes have the right to impose a constitutional order on Zimbabwe”.
The resolution gives the impression that Mugabe and ZANU PF would not accept a new constitution unless the document reflects the wishes and views of their own party – regardless of what Zuma and the rest of the international community think.
Constitutional reform is in fact the most important task for the power-sharing government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai in February and which was guaranteed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
ZANU PF also appeared to be spoiling for a fight with coalition partner MDC-T when it berated the former opposition party for demanding reforms around the security forces, saying it has the privilege to remain in control of the country’s partisan security forces founded through the merger of the liberation war forces of ZANLA and ZIPRA at independence in 1980.
“Zimbabwe’s security forces are a product of the national liberation struggle, belong to the people and are mandated to defend the country’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty,” said ZANU PF.
"May I state this clearly and categorically, (that) as ZANU PF the defence of our sovereignty rests with us and with no other. Any manoeuvres to tamper with the forces will never be entertained by us," Mugabe said in support of his party’s resolution.
Mugabe has had to rely on the security forces since 2000 to prop up his waning political career while many senior security officers have vowed never to recognise Tsvangirai as leader.
The MDC-T is pressing for reform of the security forces that Tsvangirai’s party says have been heavily politicised.
The MDC leader announced last Thursday that his office had embarked on reforms of the security forces despite resistance encountered from some quarters of Zimbabwe’s fragile coalition government.
The premier said his office was working with relevant ministries on a programme to train members of the security forces on key governance issues such as human rights as part of efforts to turn the army, intelligence service and police force into non-partisan outfits that respect the laws of the land and enforce them impartially.
The move by Tsvangirai appears calculated to beat hawkish elements in Zimbabwe’s armed forces and ZANU PF who have deliberately frustrated efforts to regularly convene meetings of the National Security Council (NSC).
The council, which replaced the Joint Military Command (JOC) which was allegedly behind last year’s bloody run-off election campaign to retain Mugabe, is supposed to meet monthly but has only met once since the formation of a coalition government by the 85-year leader, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in February.
The NSC is the new security think tank of the country and comprises Mugabe as chairperson, the two Vice-Presidents John Nkomo and Joice Mujuru, Tsvangirai, Mutambara, co-Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe as well as ministers responsible for finance, defence and the police Force.
All the country’s top security commanders are ex-officio members of the council. – ZimOnline
