INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT: “PUT OFF THE EVIL DAYS”

The ongoing briefing and updating on the progress made in resolving the "outstanding issues" by the three main political parties to the facilitation team from South Africa has reduced the media to play a speculative mandate and this truly undermines the core business of the media which includes informing the public even though Article 19 of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) recognizes the importance of the right to freedom of expression and the role of the media in a multi-party democracy. The black out in terms of information on the progress made, undermines democratic peoples' rights such as right and access to information. As provided for in the GPA, the media was supposed to be informing people especially on the marathon of talks which has been the order of the day since the inclusive government came came into effect in February 2009.Besides the neglect of the media especially in covering the progress of the inclusive government, the inclusive government has erred through various evils that have continued to manifest in the face of hope and anticipation. The confusion which still surrounds why a management committee that comprises of the chief negotiators from the three political parties was set up, where the Parliamentary Select Committee is supposed to account to, also contradicts the functions of The Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) which was set up to monitor the functions and implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Don’t the negotiators themselves think that the GPA has been undermined and compromised simply because this will mean that JOMIC is malfunctioning and irrelevant? The so called outstanding issues that range from a whole gamut of media reforms to the issue of provincial governors have continued to stall the progress of the inclusive government. These outstanding issues have over the months continued to incapacitate the success of the inclusive government. It is not so much important especially to the common man as to which political party is in retrogression but what everyone wants is a bit of transparency. It is preposterous for the three political parties to suggest that they are making progress in resolving the outstanding issues while at the same time shelving the fact that the people of Zimbabwe deserve to also know the progress made. There was also need to empower bodies like JOMIC so that they really deliver. The SADC deadline set up was not met and yet the negotiators have remained defiant by continuing to deliberate leaving the people completely in darkness in terms of what is the situation on the ground. While the intervention of South African president,Jacob Zuma is most welcome, what then is the purpose of JOMIC?Was it just the brain child of desperate politicians who wanted to just put in place a toothless and malfunctioning body which they would continue to defy time and again? It is true then that JOMIC is truly a toothless dog which is incapable of penalting defaulters. The three political must acknowledge their shortcomings as novices in this government and maybe take the safer route of maybe SADC or the African Union (AU).This will save the people of Zimbabwe the time and energy they would have spent trying to find out if the negotiators have agreed. One of the gaffes resolved or changed anything. What the parties are also forgetting is that their mandate is to bring change and improve the livelihood not for themselves only but more importantly, for the people of Zimbabwe. Also of interest is the constitution making timeframe which has suffered still birth before even outreach teams could be deployed. The continued postponement of the process has thrown a lot of doubt whether we are truly going to have a new constitution. The continued bickering over the issue of funding is nonsensical because not less than two months ago, the Parliamentary Select Committee revived people’s hopes when it announced that the funding needed has been availed through the Ministry of Finance. This whole mumbo-jumbo over the constitution making process reveals schizophrenia in the Parliamentary Select Committee. The inclusive government tottered on the brink of collapse especially when opposition members were being arrested one after another. All this was in direct violation of the GPA.The perfunctory role that the inclusive government has played ever since its formation truly reveals that it has failed dismally especially in its first year. I don’t know if we can say there is lack of political will on the part of all the parties or it’s just the fact that most of the inept and destitute politicians who found themselves in the new dispensation have settled comfortably in their new portfolios and have neglected their key responsibilities of making the inclusive government a success. As we start another chapter in 2010, maybe there is need for a paradigm shift in terms seriousness, commitment and transparency within the inclusive government. The arcane “dealings” that characterized 2009, must be abolished as we start a new year. The evil that manifested themselves in the form of human rights violations and reform procrastination among others must be put off with immediate effect. As we look ahead, one still asks whether 2010 which has already started to beckon, will bring change in tactic and progress in the inclusive government. We just have to wait and see. By Rawlings Magede.