Zimbabwe’s protagonists to the inclusive government, Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Professor Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation failed to reach agreement over the appointment of Central bank governor, Gideon Gono and Attorney-General, Johannes Tomana.
Speaking at a press conference, Thursday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said as a result of the deadlock, the principals will now refer the matter to the guarantors of Zimbabwe’s Global Political Agreement (GPA), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) for arbitration.
“In light of the above, and the fact that there is a deadlock on the status of the two individuals in question, the Principals with the support of our parties, will now refer this matter to SADC as the guarantors of the GPA,” said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai said the reappointment of Reserve Bank governor, Gono and appointment of Tomana as AG by Mugabe was a breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the GPA the political parties agreed to.
“The Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General are senior government appointments and yet, in breach of the Memorandum of Understanding, the GPA and the Reserve Bank Act, Gideon Gono was reappointed on 26thNovember 2008. The Attorney General, Johannes Tomana was appointed by President Mugabe on 17th December 2008, again in breach of the MOU and the GPA,” said the PM.
Although 85 year old Mugabe who has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 agreed to make concessions to his political rivals on the outstanding issues of appointment of Provincial governors, ambassadors. Permanent secretaries and the swearing in MDC choice for the Deputy portfolio of Agriculture, Roy Bennett he has refused on several occasions to budge in on the issue of Gono and Tomana.
Gono is widely believed to have presided over the further incarceration of Zimbabwe’s economy since he was appointed Central bank governor some six years back. Many believe Mugabe backs Gono because he has been more of his personal banker, providing ready foreign currency when the country was facing its worst economic situation.
At an MDC rally in Masvingo, about 300 km South-West of the capital Harare, last year, current Finance Minister and MDC Secretary- General, Tendai Biti once described Gono as the country’s number one economic enemy, “an economic saboteur, terrorist and number one Al-Qaeda who deserves to be shot by a firing squad.”
As A-G Tomana has been in charge, with the country witnessing the continuous persecution of MDC, human rights activists and journalists.
Tsvangirai said though the principals managed to iron out a number of outstanding issues the process was “slow and frustrating.”
Zimbabwe’s unity government was formed in February this year and is seen as the best alternative to address the political and economic mess facing the once prosperous Southern African country.
