A month after the historic power sharing deal

Jubilation, whistling, ululation, dancing and singing characterized the 15th of September, as Zimbabwe witnessed the signing of the power sharing deal. The deal which was expected to usher in a new era of restoration of democracy, economic recovery and national healing, is yet to yield anything.

One full month after Arthur Mutambara (MDC), Robert Mugabe (ZANU PF) and Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC T) signed, in agreement to share power, they are still fighting for power, and they are yet to decide who takes which Ministry. The power sharing deal was a positive and progressive step in Zimbabwean politics, however its implementation now hangs in the balance, because of one person who agreed to share power knowing he does not like sharing it — that’s Robert Mugabe. Under the deal, MDC T would control 13 Cabinet seats, MDC Mutambara 3 seats and (ZANU-PF) would have 15 seats.
The agreement does not specify who takes which Ministry, although it is clear that this is a power sharing agreement Mugabe continues to exhibit dictatorial tendencies, as he still wants to hold on to all the key Ministries. The Herald published a list on October 11, where Zanu PF awarded itself key portfolios such as defence, justice and home affairs. The MDC refused to accept this as it militated against the spirit of the September 15 agreement.

After weeks of continued deadlock on the allocation of Ministries the Mediator Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, came back to Zimbabwe failed to strike an agreement on the Ministry sharing. Mugabe is proving to the Zimbabweans and the rest of the world that once a dictator always a dictator. The implementation of the agreement would have begun weeks ago if Mugabe had changed his ways of clinging on to power.

The President is failing to accept the fact that of the three of them he is the failure. He has been in government for 28 years and has led the nation to its death bed. Why does he want the Ministry of Finance when he has derailed the economy? why does he want the Ministry of Home Affairs when he has turned the police, into violators of human rights? We could go on and on. As a failure it is only sensible that he gives a chance to, to new ideas, to new blood so that, we usher in a new era and begin the transition process.

Whilst the leaders are still deadlocked, Gideon Gono continues to unleash his monetary policies, sufficient enough to rate him as the greatest failure of the month. Two days after the signing of the deal the RBZ unveiled the $1000 note coupled with an increase in the cash withdrawal limit to the same amount. On the 29th of September he again introduced the $10000 and $20000 note and an increase in cash withdrawal limits. Then on the 25th of September inflation forced the government to allow shops to begin selling in foreign currency as the local currency proved to be worthless. On the third of October the RBZ blocked electronic bank transfers last week, in a bid to stop the continued free fall in the value of the local currency. Serious cash shortages had meant that many people could at least use bank accounts as a method of payment, thus Gono’s move worsened the suffering of Zimbabweans. As if that is not enough on the 13th of October he introduced the $50000 note and an increase in cash withdrawal to the same amount.

All these intervention strategies done within a period of 30 days, but this has not alleviated the suffering of Zimbabweans. People still have to struggle to get their money from the bank, prices of basic commodities and transport costs also rise with the increase in cash withdrawal limits and the introduction of larger denominations. Inflation continues to rise uncontrollably and has pitched to a rate of 231000000%. The RBZ continues to deal with the symptoms instead of curing the disease, with such a governor Zanu pf cannot continue to have the Ministry of Finance.

What Zimbabweans want to see right now is for the leaders to start working together as they promised on the 15th of September. We still retain confidence in the potential of the deal and hope that there is a speedy resolution to this impasse