Zimbabwe: Chinamasa how could you, Tsvangirai how could you?

Was it only yesterday that I was rejoicing together with my fellow Zimbabweans over the swearing in ceremony that made Tsvangirai the official Prime Minister of Zimbabwe with the hope that at long last our country was going to be rebuilt and the suffering was going to end. Well today I am livid with anger and I am not the only one, my workmates and my neighbors are just as pissed off as I am if not more, gone is the celebratory mood and the reason for my anger is because of this piece of news that we read from, "The Bearded Man" online blog whom I want to believe would not write a lie, surprisingly enough the press is not having a field day with this particular juicy piece of news.

The team of negotiators, including Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche from ZANU PF, Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma from the MDC, Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Mishihairabwi-Mushonga from the MDC Mutambara faction, unanimously agreed to adopt the draft Bill written by the MDC. But the Bill gazetted by Chinamasa on Monday is significantly different from what they agreed."

The illegal and underhanded changes include:
1) "...the massive expansion of the size of the National Security Council from 11 members to 21 members" "...National Security Council comprising only the President, the Prime Minister, the two Vice-Presidents, the two Deputy Prime Ministers, the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, the Ministers of Defence and Home
Affairs, and three other Ministers nominated by the parties to the agreement. The Bill that was gazetted by Chinamasa proposes a massively expanded structure that comprises the President as chairperson, the two Vice-Presidents, the Prime Minister, the two Deputy Prime Ministers, the Ministers responsible for Finance, the
Defence Forces and the Police Force, one Minister nominated by each of the three parties."
"...From the Chief Secretary to Cabinet downwards, they are ex-officio members but there are clear attempts to incorporate them into the Council," Biti said. Biti said: "We are not replicating the JOC (Joint Operations Command). JOC was a shadowy junta body. We are not institutionalising juntacracy. It’s supposed
to be a new start."

2) "...The draft bill stated that in the absence of the President, the Prime Minister would call and chair the meetings. But the bill gazetted on Monday states that in the absence of Mugabe, one of the two Vice Presidents will be acting President, revealing a well-knitted plan to preclude Tsvangirai from chairing the Council."

3) "Chinamasa has also made changes to the frequency of Council meetings, changing the fortnightly meetings suggested by the MDC to once a month."

4) "...The MDC draft stated that decisions of the Council be made with the concurrence of at least five of its members, including the President and the Prime Minister. If any disagreements arise, they should be referred to the Cabinet. This has been rejected. Clause 6 of the MDC draft has been deleted completely from the Bill, which proposes that the generals would be subservient to the Council."

Chinamasa has done it again, change the contents of an important agreement between the three GNU parties and Zimbabweans are not amused at all. It is not the first time he has done this, he did it on the September 15, 2008, GNU agreement document. This act is a reflection of the lack of ethics and professionalism that is found in Mugabe's henchmen and cohorts most of whom were ministers in the previous government which is the main reason why the country collapsed the way it did. Mugabe has today named most of these same corrupt and unethical men cabinet ministers including this conniving son of Mrs Chinamasa who thinks he is very clever. Most Zimbabweans who were talking about this issue were so angry with him that he has been declared public enemy number one. His dishonesty is being interpreted by ordinary people as tantamount to trying to cancel the lease of a life devoid of suffering, hunger and cholera that the formation of this coalition government is promising the people. He knows very well that the success of this coalition government depends on building trust between the different parties as well as builing trust in the people and he has shattered that trust. Chinamasa, how could you? Surprisingly enough Tsvangirai and the MDC have decided not to make noise about this issue because it reflects badly on them as well. How could Tsvangirai be duped into signing an agreement before re-reading it again, not once but twice and by the very same person, he should have been more cautious the second time round. Tsvangirai how could you? We hope that this anomaly is going to be corected quietly and it will not destroy the GNU marriage. This is the kind of blunder that a man of intelligence like Dr Simba Makoni would never have done had he been in Mr Tsvangirai's shoes.

The key players should not forget that the success of this coalition government depends on donor funds the international community is willing to give us, to help rebuild our nation. Most of the world is taking a cautious if sceptical approach to the new government. Most Western countries have vowed to help only if Mugabe does not override Tsvangirai's powers and allows him room to manouvre and provide a positive change in the country. This is what most of them have said.
Britain Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, Britain and the international community will be looking for the whole government to demonstrate, through its actions, a clear commitment to the reforms that the Zimbabwean people so deserve. "We will continue to provide substantial humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe," he said. "We also stand ready to provide broader long-term help. This will depend on the coalition government's actions. "A commitment to macroeconomic stabilisation, restoration of the rule of law, respect for human rights, the immediate release of political detainees, the repeal of repressive legislation, and a commitment to timely elections - are the foundations of international support."

AUSTRALIA will maintain sanctions against Zimbabwe despite the formation of a new government under Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says Australia cautiously welcomes the news. This is in line with other western nations.The US and EU have said they will wait and see to see how much power does the new Prime Minister get. "But we have grave reservations. Our preference, of course, would be for Mr Mugabe to walk off the stage," he told ABC Radio. Australia would continue to provide Zimbabwe with humanitarian assistance, but no consideration was being given to lifting sanctions. "They will remain for the present,'' Mr Smith said.

A spokesman for New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said no decision had been taken on whether to list sanctions and there was "a degree of concern" over how the Harare government would function."We will not be racing ahead to lift sanctions," he said.

USA said they will only give aid if the coalition government proves to be working out positively for Zimbabwe.

So my plea to Mugabe is to get rid of his dictatorship tendencies and give Tsvangirai enough power for him to rebuild the dying nation. My plea to Mugabe's ministers whose corrupt and incompetent ways maimed the country in the last government is for them to totally change their ways. To the new comers in government, namely Tsvangirai and his team my plea is for them to be a leading example of competence and professionalism in whatever they do. I wish the coalition government God's blessings.