Panel of Zimbabwe Elders: Inherent flaws

Ordinarily and as a concept to enhance peace by intervening to stop politically motivated violence, a Panel of Elders in any post-conflict society is something to be welcomed and encouraged.

But the Panel of Zimbabwe Elders that was created and launched by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare at the end of May has inherent flaws not only in its composition, but also in the manner it was put together.

For starters, one wonders how those who were charged with bringing together these "elders" defined what an elder is. The Panel of Zimbabwe Elders is made up of traditional leaders, academics, church leaders, retired military personnel and retired judges. Without naming names, they range from the relatively young to the Octogenarians. Clearly therefore, the panel is wrongly named. It is a misnomer. There is something that is not elderly about it.

Neither is the panel representative of a wide cross section of the Zimbabwean Community. A panel whose terms of reference include coming up with strategies and actions to promote peace and halt political violence  at every level and across the political divide must ideally become a national institution representative of all interests and positions.

It has to be a two or three-way reciprocal business for the panel to be relevant, useful and effective. ZANU-PF by its own admission was not part of this important project and has in fact described the panel of Zimbabwe Elders as "an MDC election vehicle." How then can a panel which is not inclusive and was formed to facilitate dialogue and end political violence perpetrated largely by one political party be expected to be meaningful and effective?

Clearly, this panel is not a national dialogue committee but something else - I do not know what! I have no doubt in my mind that members of the panel could be men and women of total sincerity and integrity in their individual capacities but there is no escaping the perception problem.

My major concern here and that of many others is the identification and selection criteria that was used in coming up with the names to serve on the panel.

It is important for the country that there should be an inclusive approach to these national issues of dialogue, end to violence, transitional justice and moving the country forward into a bright future.

Transitional justice is all about healing and learning to live together as Zimbabweans. Therefore the importance of inclusivity cannot be over emphasized.

Another fundamental flaw in the whole Panel of Zimbabwe Elders is in some of the personalities that have been chosen. Again, a perception problem! How impartial and detached from political parties are some of these "elders"? In a polarised political environment such as ours, people appointed to such panels and bodies must be seen to have no political affiliations otherwise it will be a waste of time and resources.

A Panel of Zimbabwe Elders created to promote peace is supposed to project the utmost impartiality and objectivity.

This particular panel will not be seen as such. It is common knowledge that some members of the Panel of Zimbabwe Elders are known members of MDC and other political parties. Is it any wonder that ZANU-PF boycotted the launch of the Panel! There is a world of a difference between having strong interest in freedom and democracy and being detached fr-om any narrow view of politics on one hand and being politically active and full members of a political party on the other.

Being sympathetic to a political party which stands for democracy is not a bad thing at all but being a fully-fledged member and being appointed to a supposedly impartial body is just not on.

In the light of the foregoing, the-re is clearly a credibility crisis surrounding the Panel of Zimbabwe Elders. There is a pressing need for a rethink of the composition of the Panel of Zimbabwe Elders. There is a pressing need for a rethink  as far as this important project is concerned. In its current composition, the key objectives of the panel will not be met. That's for sure! I do think it is very important for the members of the panel to be the right sort of persons.

Otherwise, the panel will become just another political talking shop which promises much but fails to deliver the goods.

We certainly ne-ed some transparency rules to be followed in the identification of Elders and an open consultative process to be undertaken for the Panel of Zimbabwe Elders to be a truly national dialogue committee to assist the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration. Ours is a coalition government and it is important to act and make decisions in that context and not make decisions unilaterally as political parties.

The bickering and squabbling in the unity government has gone for far too long  to the detriment of Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are sick and tired of this bickering. How I wish the political leaders of this country would have comprehensive understanding of the political context we now find ourselves in.

The context is that of moving Zimbabwe forward together as Zimbabweans.

Let us establish a Panel of Zimbabwe Elders as an independent political voice and a national institution to strengthen the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration and not the paper tiger that I fear this current one will be.

The last thing that this country needs is yet another body mired in controversy.

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Bornwell Chakaodza can be contacted on borncha@gmail.com