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Nelson Chamisa, accused Zanu PF of “failure to grasp the concept of negotiations”

“One party state mentality” threatens Zanu PF-MDC power sharing deal



Prospects of reviving Zimbabwe’s political and economic fortunes through inter-party dialogue between Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change in an expected political power split between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, is facing obstruction due to Zanu PF’s “one party state mentality”, a Senior MDC official has said.

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In the deal it is expected that Tsvangirai take the role of Prime Minister while Mugabe becomes President. The sharing of executive powers between the two political figures has been the burning issue with MDC blaming Zanu PF of a ploy to make the MDC leader a titular Prime Minister without authority.    In an exclusive interview Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai, National spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, accused Zanu PF of “failure to grasp the concept of negotiations” saying the revolutionary party led by Robert Mugabe since Zimbabwe gained political independence from British colonial rule 28 years ago is “used to manipulating other parties.”   Zanu PF insists that the talks are held under the backing of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and lay the blame on Morgan Tsvangirai for “making fresh demands yet signing to every agreement reached at each stage of the talks.”   Chamisa however refuted that MDC is responsible for the impasse in achieving the final agreement to the talks.   “What fresh demands are they referring to? Why should they shove the deal (power sharing) down our throat? That is tantamount to rape.”   The MDC spokesperson said the “political environment in Zimbabwe is upside down” and that the talks should focus on resolving the crisis. He said with the “piecemeal” approach to reforms by Zanu PF and its uncompromising behaviour, it’s unlikely that the talks will yield positive results in solving the political and economic catastrophe gripping the country.   On the issue of MDC legislators breaking into song in the august chamber, when President Mugabe officially opened the first session of the seventh parliament on Tuesday last week, Chamisa said the incident is not expected in parliament but that the widespread call by Zanu PF for the speaker of parliament to appoint a “select committee” to investigate and prosecute MDC MPs is an “abuse of power by Zanu PF.”   He said earlier on, on Monday and Tuesday just before the opening of parliament that week, five MDC legislators had been arrested at parliament building flouting Parliamentary rules and regulations.   “That issue is a political dispute and should not be solved by parliament. It’s a matter that should be resolved in the context of dialogue,” said Chamisa.   As the bickering on signing the final document to power sharing between Zanu PF and MDC continues, ordinary Zimbabweans are the hardest hit, with the standard of living deteriorating daily. Official figures indicate that inflation is at a staggering 11.2 million percent. Recent statistics from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) reveal that industry capacity utilisation declined to 18 percent at the end of 2007 from 53 percent in 2006. Output from agriculture fell by more than 25 percent last year.


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Stephen Chadenga -- Bio and Archives

Stephen Chandega is a journalist in Zimbabwe


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