What The Zimbabwe Deal Can Achieve.

The agreement between Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF), Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and Arthur Mutambara (MDC-M) on resolving the challenges facing Zimbabwe was finally signed on Monday 15 September 2008 in Harare with all the pomp and ceremony a battered and traumatized country could muster. It was a result of a long process of negotiations facilitated by Thabo Mbeki (President of South Africa). A few hours after the signing ceremony, the actual document was then released to the public and is now there for all to see.
Since a lot of what is in the document had been "leaked" over the last few days, there were no major surprises in the actual document.
Opinions are very divided on this deal and a number of concerns have been raised by many analysts and sceptics.
Some people accept it as the best thing that could have happened to Zimbabwe at this moment, while others reject it completely as a project which will not work and will fail very early in its lifetime.
But the majority of people find themselves in between. There is a wait and see attitude because in as much as there are many excellent things in the agreement, there are also many areas of concern.

As Arthur Mutambara said in his remarks after the signing, this is a compromise document, flaws, warts and all. But it is the best that could be achieved in the current situation in Zimbabwe. It's a first step to the ultimate goal of a democratic and prosperous nation.

Some of the concerns are:

1. How can the parties that have had such strong resentment towards each other work together?

2. Has ZANU-PF/Robert Mugabe changed, from being obsessed with and abusing power to a party and person who can accommodate other opinions?

3. How is the complex government with a cabinet, council of ministers, JOMIC (Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee) going to work?

4. How will paralysis be avoided i.e. check-mating one another between MDC and ZANU-PF?

5. How does one achieve a change of mindset in ZANU-PF for them to accept that they no longer absolute power?

6. Will the western donor countries (EU, USA, Japan etc) accept this new government, trust that Mugabe is not up to his old tricks and provide the required funding?


These and many other questions, real areas of concern and genuine questions which throw a cloud over the deal. But it is my opinion that there is more good than bad in this deal and I indicated that in my article:

http://alvin-mas.blogspot.com/2008/09/zimbabwe-dealis-glass-half-empty-or.html


This deal must be seen for what it really is, namely a framework for the transition from the Mugabe era to a more democratic dispensation for Zimbabwe. Nothing more and nothing less.
It's a step-wise removal of Mugabe from power, to a new generation of leaders and hopefully a move from ZANU-PF (with all it entails) to another ruling party.
Seen in this context, one would notice that this deal is a very positive achievement.

A study of the agreement document reveals what it will achieve if implemented. Given the dire condition in which the country finds itself, Robert Mugabe has very little choice (if any) than to go along with the deal.


1. The Deal Will Remove State Institutions, Events, Days from the Grip of ZANU-PF
Over the years ZANU-PF has run Zimbabwe as its own private property. Whatever is legitimately owned by Zimbabweans became ZANU-PF's private property and they could do whatever they wanted with it. Here are some examples.


Heroes Acre (a place where national heroes are buried) became a ZANU-PF cemetery. Only ZANU-PF people were buried there at the State's expense.


Independence Day (April 18) celebrations became a ZANU-PF celebrations.


The Traditional Chiefs and Kraal Heads because leaders of ZANU-PF in their areas. And unless these leaders were loyal to ZANU-PF and ensured the people in their areas voted and supported ZANU-PF, there would not receive benefits from the government. These leaders even threatened their people with eviction if it turned out they were opposition supporters.


The Police became a ZANU-PF force. ZANU-PF thugs literally got away with murder, but opposition members were swiftly arrested for some trivial crimes.


The Army was more loyal to ZANU-PF than to the people. Army leaders publicly declared that they would not salute or respect anybody who did not "fight" the liberation struggle.


Youth Training Programmes became training programmes for ZANU-PF militias.

State resources (e.g. army trucks, helicopters, buildings, telephones etc.) were used for ZANU-PF purposes, although the taxpayers came from all political parties. In the 1980s ZANU-PF declared that "ZANU-PF and the government are one", implying there is no separation between party and state.


The deal signed on September 15, clearly spells out that state institutions, events and resources can not be used for party political goals. This means that ZANU-PF can no longer plunder state coffers in order to keep it going. It now has to fund-raise and campaign for support and funding like everybody else. This is a major development because ZANU-PF over the years has had its hand in the till and used the resources to bribe, to brutalise and terrorise opponents.


2. The Deal Will Free the Airwaves and Reform ZBC, The Herald etc.
An effective tool in oppressing people is to control information. That way one can determine what people should hear and read. One can then brainwash people with propaganda, lies and misinformation.
The ZANU-PF led government used this tool effectively and efficiently . Independent media houses were very few and restricted, the major daily news papers, TV and Radio were effectively run by the party.
That way Zimbabwe Television became ZANU-PF Television (both ZTV). It has been a huge challenge for opposition parties to campaign on the airwaves, since independent media was virtually non existent in the country. All TV and Radio stations were state run (sorry, ZANU-PF run!)
The government controlled media was biased and misinformed people, demonised anything and anybody critical of the government.
Therefore the government was never criticized and scrutinised and this led to arrogance, mismanagement and complacency.
This deal stipulates that independent media houses must be given operating licences and there must be a vibrant culture of independent reporting.
This would lead to the government taking the voters more seriously and respecting diverse opinions.


3. The Deal will Bring an Inclusive Government which Limits Mugabe
One can not over emphasize the fact that in both the cabinet and parliament, ZANU-PF will be in the minority. A lot has been said about the fact that Robert Mugabe will be head of state and government, chair cabinet and have some executive powers.
But one should read the document more carefully and see that his powers have been greatly curtailed. He can no longer simply run by decree, veto major decisions or use his powers to threaten, brutalize and hence force his way. He can only function in consultation with the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
One of the reasons why some people are worried about paralysis in this government is exactly the fact that Mugabe can not function as President without Tsvangirai supporting him and vice-versa.

One of the things that makes constitutional democracies function well are "checks-and-balances" which hinder the abuse of power. This has been lacking in Zimbabwe since the 1980 independence.
The agreement will usher in a government which can not abuse power. ZANU-PF and Robert Mugabe can not abuse power.
This is exactly one of the main reasons why Morgan Tsvangirai rejected the previous deal (in August 2008), because it kept Mugabe's powers unchecked. After Thabo Mbeki revised the deal and ensured that this is taken care of, the MDC finally agreed to the deal. Even if it was not first price (total transfer of power) it achieved the next best thing (ensure ZANU-PF's wings are clipped).
The MDC formations can therefore achieve a lot in this inclusive government than what many sceptics are willing to concede.
The question of whether this "marriage" will work is still a valid one, but Robert Mugabe knows that he can not solve the Zimbabwe crisis without the MDC and therefore he will go along and avoid sabotaging it.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and all the progressive forces in this government, civil society and the nation at large (including the Zimbabweans in the diaspora) should therefore take advantage of the huge opportunities given to them by this deal, to lead the nation out of the crisis.
The international community and donors must provide the necessary funding and investment to make this work. They can not afford to allow it to fail and let down the people of Zimbabwe and all the progressive forces that risked their lives to "topple" the Mugabe regime.


If one looks at it, one would see that it is actually a blessing in disguise that the MDC did not get "total power" because now they are under pressure to work hard and deliver the goods to the people. If they do that, they will then "earn" the respect and trust and confidence of the people such that at the next election (between 2010 and 2013), they can bury ZANU-PF and put the Mugabe ghost to rest.