ZIMBABWE COALITION LIVING ON BORROWED TIMES

DAILY NATION
By KITSEPILE NYATHI,
Nation Correspondent
April 14 2009 at 18:30

Harare,Zimbabwe
Deepening rifts in Zimbabwe’s coalition government, a failure by the international community to provide urgent funds and disagreements over a new constitution have given rise to fears that the country could slide back to anarchy.

President Robert Mugabe has raised the ire of his coalition partners, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Professor Arthur Mutambara with a unilateral decision to transfer a major portfolio from a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) minister to one of his Zanu PF allies.

The portfolio assignments included the oversight of state communication including state-owned fixed line Phone Company and mobile phone providers after MDC and Zanu PF ministers claimed control.

Analysts said the disagreements that came at a time when the parties were still haggling over issues that were still outstanding from the September 15 power sharing agreement showed the coalition was living on borrowed time.

“This (the transfer of ministerial portfolio) is in violation of the global political agreement and the law, the Prime Minister does not support the violation of the law. He cannot be seen to be condoning this,” said Mr James Maridadi, the Prime Minister’s spokesman.

President Mugabe was set for showdown talks with Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara to tackle the clash over ministries, the allocation of posts of provincial governors and permanent secretaries.

But senior MDC figures believe the latest incident showed Mr Mugabe was not comfortable ceding control of some sensitive portfolio’s to his coalition partners such as telecommunications.

“This whole thing is motivated by hatred, malice and the crime is that I am MDC, that I am young and that I am trying to make positive contribution,” said Information and Communication Technology Minister, Nelson Chamisa who lost part of his portfolio to a Zanu PF counterpart. “I have already raised this issue with the other principals – Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara.”

The unity government was formed on February 13 after Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara’s parties finally agreed to implement the September 15 power sharing agreement to end Zimbabwe’s long running political and political crises.

Its performances has been heavily affected by the failure by the international community to raise more than US$8 billion needed for reconstruction purposes and land invasions blamed on President Mugabe’s supporters.

Resurgent political violence in some parts of the country have also diminished hopes the unity government will last.

Professor Jonathan Moyo, the only independent Member of Parliament warned the coalition government’s failure to mobilise enough resources to rehabilitate the economy might prove to be its downfall.

“There is just no money in the country right now be it in business coffers or the pockets of ordinary people and this is a very serious matter which is being ignored by the self indulgent coalition government whose Prime Minister is now groping in the dark in a desperate search for non exist benchmarks of success,” Prof Moyo said.

Donors have restricted their support to humanitarian initiatives and civil servants who returned to work after the government promised them salaries in foreign currency are now threatening to down tools next month.

Last year, the entire civil service was on strike pressing for better salaries and living conditions, which the bankrupt government could not afford.

The national hope and goodwill engendered by the formation of the new government are fast waning.

The way the unity government is proposing to tackle the constitutional making process is threatening to worsen the situation. During the Easter holidays, a select committee of parliament was unveiled to oversee the crafting of the new constitution as enunciated by the power sharing agreement.
But civic groups have threatened to disrupt the process, raising fears Zimbabwe would be thrown back to anarchy.

They fear the government would impose a draft agreed that was produced by Zanu PF and MDC representatives a year ago as part of their long drawn negotiations.
Deepening rifts in Zimbabwe’s coalition government, a failure by the international community to provide urgent funds and disagreements over a new constitution have given rise to fears that the country could slide back to anarchy.

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President Robert Mugabe has raised the ire of his coalition partners, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Professor Arthur Mutambara with a unilateral decision to transfer a major portfolio from a Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) minister to one of his Zanu PF allies.

The portfolio assignments included the oversight of state communication including state-owned fixed line Phone Company and mobile phone providers after MDC and Zanu PF ministers claimed control.

Analysts said the disagreements that came at a time when the parties were still haggling over issues that were still outstanding from the September 15 power sharing agreement showed the coalition was living on borrowed time.

“This (the transfer of ministerial portfolio) is in violation of the global political agreement and the law, the Prime Minister does not support the violation of the law. He cannot be seen to be condoning this,” said Mr James Maridadi, the Prime Minister’s spokesman.

President Mugabe was set for showdown talks with Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara to tackle the clash over ministries, the allocation of posts of provincial governors and permanent secretaries.

But senior MDC figures believe the latest incident showed Mr Mugabe was not comfortable ceding control of some sensitive portfolio’s to his coalition partners such as telecommunications.

“This whole thing is motivated by hatred, malice and the crime is that I am MDC, that I am young and that I am trying to make positive contribution,” said Information and Communication Technology Minister, Nelson Chamisa who lost part of his portfolio to a Zanu PF counterpart. “I have already raised this issue with the other principals – Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara.”

The unity government was formed on February 13 after Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara’s parties finally agreed to implement the September 15 power sharing agreement to end Zimbabwe’s long running political and political crises.

Its performances has been heavily affected by the failure by the international community to raise more than US$8 billion needed for reconstruction purposes and land invasions blamed on President Mugabe’s supporters.

Resurgent political violence in some parts of the country have also diminished hopes the unity government will last.

Professor Jonathan Moyo, the only independent Member of Parliament warned the coalition government’s failure to mobilise enough resources to rehabilitate the economy might prove to be its downfall.

“There is just no money in the country right now be it in business coffers or the pockets of ordinary people and this is a very serious matter which is being ignored by the self indulgent coalition government whose Prime Minister is now groping in the dark in a desperate search for non exist benchmarks of success,” Prof Moyo said.

Donors have restricted their support to humanitarian initiatives and civil servants who returned to work after the government promised them salaries in foreign currency are now threatening to down tools next month.

Last year, the entire civil service was on strike pressing for better salaries and living conditions, which the bankrupt government could not afford.

The national hope and goodwill engendered by the formation of the new government are fast waning.

The way the unity government is proposing to tackle the constitutional making process is threatening to worsen the situation. During the Easter holidays, a select committee of parliament was unveiled to oversee the crafting of the new constitution as enunciated by the power sharing agreement.
But civic groups have threatened to disrupt the process, raising fears Zimbabwe would be thrown back to anarchy.

They fear the government would impose a draft agreed that was produced by Zanu PF and MDC representatives a year ago as part of their long drawn negotiations.