MDC say they will not be held ‘prisoner’ in unity deal

By Lance Guma
02 January 2009

The MDC led by founding President Morgan Tsvangirai has moved to reassure sceptical supporters that it will not be held ‘prisoner’ in a government of national unity with ZANU PF. Speaking to Newsreel on Monday, party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said if for any reason the deal failed to work they would have no hesitation in walking out, ‘even if it meant in the next hour, tonight or tomorrow.’ Chamisa refused to be drawn into whether they would walk out of the deal if some of their National Council demands were not met by the 11th of February when Tsvangirai is due to be sworn in as Prime Minister. He told us some of the issues were already ‘work in progress.’

In a statement released soon after the vote to join the government the MDC National Council insisted on a resolution covering all outstanding issues. These were listed as: the drafting of legislation spelling out the role of the newly created National Security Council; the appointment of provincial governors; the equitable distribution of ministerial portfolios, and for all political prisoners to be released. A constitutional amendment giving legal life to the deal is expected to be introduced in parliament on Wednesday before being moved to the senate for approval. The amendment was one of the demands put forward by the MDC before a government could be formed.

A timetable set by the regional grouping SADC sets out that a unity government must be in place by the 13th of February, with Tsvangirai and his two deputies being sworn in on the 11th February. On Tuesday this week a meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) composed of ZANU PF and MDC officials is set to meet to iron out the outstanding issues. Analysts say its unlikely ZANU PF will make any significant concessions given that the MDC have already committed to the deal.

Chamisa told us ZANU PF would not swallow their party as some feared. He said they were entering the deal as partners and not joining ZANU PF like what PF ZAPU did in 1987. Chamisa said they accepted criticism from those who were sceptical about the deal but said what was important was achieving a democratic Zimbabwe even if people disagreed on strategies. “We won people-power in March last year, now (via this deal) we are moving to getting state power,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai on Monday met over 200 civil society leaders in Harare in what the party described as a consultative meeting. Chamisa said Tsvangirai got input from the groups on issues related to the enactment of a new people-driven constitution, and other issues related to transitional justice in a new Zimbabwe.