The Aftermath!

Now that the deal has been signed, now than there shall be a new inclusive government! Are we on the verge of rejuvenation? Is the country facing a new dawn? Where does real power lie? Is there genuineness? Where to after 5 years?

What is not in doubt is that the majority of the Zimbabwean population; the majority of the freedom loving Zimbabweans, the majority of the suffering masses of our nation are happy, they are hopeful, they are optimistic and forward looking. Save for a few cautious disgruntlements especially with the genuiness of the parties involved, the nature of the deal, the inclusiveness of the government to be and the method by which a solution was found, they, at this stage, constitute a minority. I shall also cautiously say they constitute a bunch of power sharks, beneficiaries of donor money, genuine pessimists and cautious critics who are genuinely doubtful. It will not be necessary to deal with this minority but to dwell and delve into the great question of the day. Does the GNU have a future? Will Zimbabwe be a beneficiary of this deal? How?

It would be a miracle if anyone can answer these questions. I will try and posit possibilities, speculate, fidget and stammer on some of this answers. What is clear from the onset is the fact that ZANU PF and MDC T are diametrically opposed forces with different formulae to ridding Zimbabwe of the quandary it finds itself in. let’s assume that , for the sake of progress and redeeming itself, ZANU PF has assented to the MDC to lure back and gain international trust. Therefore one can hope that ZANU PF will give MDC a long rope to run the economy and bring back investment, donor funds, and sanity in the economy. To this end ZANU PF will play a monitoring role of ensuring that foreign investors do not once again assume full control of our economy and push for equal partnerships. No normal Zimbabwean would refuse empowerment and globalization at the same time. The hope would therefore be that such understanding is reached among the rival parties that will see overwhelming consensus on issues of the economy.

The constitutional process should begin to take root immediately. The composition of parliament is encouraging compared to the one that largely made the composition of the 2000 Constitutional Commission. Whilst the people's views are paramount, the fear is that our people need healing; they need to be depolarized and to start to feel as one once again. Otherwise a collection of opinions or views on the constitution would lead to almost two documents in one, a polarized national document, devoid of content but spilling with emotion and anger, hate and vengeance. The parliamentarians, with the mandate from the people should be entrusted, with the help of civic society to consult the previous draft constitution, the Kariba document, the NCA draft and then consider the changes since then. The synchronization of these views will bring about a draft that will be taken to the people for approval after a vigorous campaign of alerting and awareness on the draft.

Speaking of a healed nation, a soothed mass, I would definitely say our leadership...the new leadership has a serious task ahead of them. My sister and comrade, Grace Kwinjie had this to say on her Rwandan experience... "…my Rwandan inspiration is in a leadership that puts a past

behind and decides to craft a new future and they do it". It is in the same vein that I implore and caution our new GNU leadership against opening old wounds by scratching them. Yes, lives have been lost, there has been abundant torture and maiming, and we all bear the scars of the struggle of the last 8years. A grandmother back in Tsholotsho who went for days without food, who was forced to stay with grandchildren after losing their parents to HIV, bears similar scars. It is time the leadership showed the way forward by putting their differences and past behind and encouraging a state to be a nation once again. The event of the 15th of September has to turn into a process, an inclusive process that provides for all and facilitates healing, justice, morality, equality and prosperity for all. A show of unity amongst the new leadership should provide inspiration and guidance to the masses, to live together once again as sons and daughters of the soil.

The role of the civic society has to be analyzed here. It is not in doubt nor arguable that they played a fundamental role in the democratization process of our country. It is not in doubt that the 15 September signatures provide the best hope for this democratization process and agenda to be seen to fruition. It should not be in doubt therefore that civic society has an unfinished job on its hands. The difference in this perspective, however, is that there is need for collaboration, partnership and corporation between the GNU and the civic society. As we work towards rebuilding and reconstruction, Zimbabwe cannot afford to fight again. This should not be taken to mean, that no one should oppose, or criticize the new leadership, as it is within the frameworks of the democracy we are trying to build. It is simply to say, we need to give this arrangement a chance, work with it, critique it constructively, oppose it when it severely loses focus and encourage the participation of all Zimbabweans in reclaiming our Zimbabwe.