MDC endorses decision to reject SADC proposal

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 November 2008

The Deputy President of the MDC Thokozani Khupe announced on Friday that her party will not join a unity government with Robert Mugabe until the rivals resolve their differences over a power-sharing deal.
Khupe, who chaired the joint meeting of the national council and national executive in Harare in the absence of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told Newsreel they were still committed to the power-sharing deal, and that they were not going to walk away from it. The decision to endorse Tsvangirai’s rejection of the SADC proposal was unanimous, according to Khupe.

“We will be the last people standing. But as the MDC we are saying first things first. Let amendment number 19 be enacted and passed into law. Only after this is done can a new government be formed, otherwise how can this government be formed outside a legal framework,” Khupe said.
Under the deal signed on 15th September, Robert Mugabe would remain as President while Tsvangirai would take the new post of Prime Minister. But parliament first needs to approve the amendment to create the office of the Prime Minister and define his powers.

“Mugabe cannot form a government without this amendment. It’s not his prerogative to extend an invitation to us to join government; this is an inclusive thing involving three parties. In any case, without amendment 19, Tsvangirai is not yet Prime Minister, so where is he sending the invitation to because as party leader he does not have the authority to accept that invitation,” Khupe explained.
She added; “Neither Mugabe nor ZANU PF has the legitimacy of forming any government or running this country in the absence of the consummation of the global power-sharing agreement.”
Khupe said the MDC would join an inclusive government only after the amendment was passed, and all other outstanding issues, including the appointment of permanent secretaries, provincial governors and ambassadors, have been resolved.

She also criticised the leaders of SADC for ignoring the most important issues and allowing themselves to be bullied into believing that the Home Affairs ministry was the only outstanding issue.
On Thursday, the Mutambara led MDC formation said it too will not be part of a unity government formed under the current agreement. Deputy spokesperson Renson Gasela said his formation had not yet received any invitation to submit names of potential cabinet ministers.

”But even if we do receive any such invitation we will not submit
names because the global agreement does not provide for an inclusive
government. If any party among the three is not for the idea, then it is
not an ‘inclusive’ government and, therefore, we can not participate in that
government unless all three parties are involved,” he said.