Sadc must stop the GNU farce: MDC-99

MDC-99 PRESS STATEMENT

23 AUGUST 2011
SADC MUST STOP THE GNU FARCE

The MDC-99 finds the continuing circus of talks, summits and endless negotiations by the three parties involved in the failed inclusive government of Zimbabwe to have become totally meaningless. Sadc has become an accomplice in this prevarication, which is a huge burden to the suffering people of Zimbabwe.

MDC99 calls for an immediate end to the Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai, Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube circus and believes the way forward is to replace the failed and scandalous Government of National Unity (GNU) with a transitional authority headed by a civilian to prepare for free and fair elections. The noise about the so-called election roadmap is meaningless as long as it is only the three parties involved in creating it. Any genuine roadmap must involve all political parties in this country. MDC99 must be involved, the same as Mavambo, Zapu, Zanu Ndonga, Democratic Party, ANC and even Daniel Chingoma's outfit for the roadmap to be fully representative of all political interests and desires.

Any progressive Zimbabwean must utterly dismiss the posturing and impression given by the parties involved in the GNU that they are supposed to go all the way-even into eternity-fighting to protect their selfish interests at the expense of the whole nation.

For the record, it is now over four years since the rounds of so-called talks involving these parties started in 2008 under the crooked mediation of former South African President, Thabo Mbeki but if one looks back and takes stock, the results have been a total farce. After spending a long time going forth and back, Mbeki brokered a scandalous so-called Global Political Agreement, which to all purposes and intents merely created political comfort zones for dictator Robert Mugabe, and his newly-found lieutenants, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara.

Thereafter, it became an unending story of circus involving Sadc, which seems to enjoy keeping Zimbabwe on the agenda forever without any meaningful progress. Our appeal to Sadc is that they should come to admit the failure of the GNU farce and allow Zimbabweans to go through transition under a different arrangement headed by a respected cleric or civic leader.

As Sadc continues to entertain the madness of Mugabe, Tsvangirai, Mutambara and Ncube, the reality for Zimbabweans remains thus;
a) Unemployment levels of over 90%.
b) Poor remuneration for the few in employment, well below the Poverty Datum Line.
c) Sustained industrial paralysis across the whole sector.
d) Worsened fiscal deficit, coupled with a failing monetary regime that have dire effects on the poor, who are the majority in Zimbabwe.
e) Failure to improve social service delivery as serious water problems and power shortages deepen.
f) Political uncertainty and tension, which could plunge the country back into bloodshed and anarchy at any time.
g) Continuous looting of national coffers by the elite and plundering of national assets by the partners of the GNU who clearly race to make the most of the opportunity at the looting table without caring about the suffering of Zimbabwe.
h) The nation continues to be eclipsed by a dark cloud of uncertainty due to the failure to have a clear vision, direction or medium-to-long-term planning by the confused GNU.

Job Sikhala
MDC99 President