Opinion / Columnist
Did Zanu-PF shoot itself in the foot in London?
02 Apr 2013 at 22:07hrs | Views
It is now very clear that things did not go as expected by Zanu-PF at the re-engagement talks held last week here in London.
First, hopes about the possible lifting of a travel ban and assets free on the Head of State and Commander in Chief, his spouse and a few close associates ahead of the much-talked- about elections before any credible reforms are effected, failed to materialise.
Secondly, at the end of the talks, possibly trying to earn lost ground, Zanu-PF negotiator Patrick Chinamasa issued a parallel "communiqué", the implications of which could fill a whole book on 'How Not to Make A Diplomatic Blunder'.
Despite travelling to London as a single supposedly united Zimbabwe GNU delegation, the unprecedented move by Mr Chinamasa (of issuing an arbitrary counter communiqué that does not represent the 3 parties to the talks) vindicated widely-held beliefs of Zanu-PF dominance and tendency to dictate every step amid accusations of operating a parallel regime.
The most bizarre part of the 'counter-communiqué ' issued by Mr Chinamasa relates to where he says that he complained about forced removals and deportations of Zimbabweans from the UK..blah blah blah. Really? Of all people, Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu-PF speaking on behalf of the Diaspora whom he paradoxically disenfranchised for exercising their right to reject the draft constitution in 2000?
Thirdly, despite recent online denials that the Zanu-PF delegate to the London talks, Mr Patrick Chinamasa charged towards British MP, Kate Hoey and had to be restrained, "Chinamasa in a near fist fight with British MP", 31st March 2013 confirms receiving written responses from the UK parliamentarian.
Kate Hoey said she was "not surprised by his attitude entirely in keeping with what I would expect from Zanu-PF".
So will the politburo launch a top-level investigation into that incident?
Finally, and interestingly, one of the ZimVigil founders, Patson Muzuwa reportedly managed to smuggle himself into the Zimbabwe Embassy for a meeting attended by the three-member delegation and when the unsuspecting Chinamasa asked whether people had been ill-treated by Zanu-PF, Patson dismayed everyone by standing up and saying #Z11">'Yes, I have been tortured' [accessed 02/04/13].
As for the MDC formations, they performed relatively well, save for Mrs Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga's rather awkward pleas for sanctions on Mr Mugabe to be lifted before security sector and media reforms ahead of credible, peaceful free and fair harmonised elections. The MDC formations should rotate the negotiators rather than risk' group think' from the same people for five years.
It looks like Zanu-PF actually shot itself in the foot in London.
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Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
First, hopes about the possible lifting of a travel ban and assets free on the Head of State and Commander in Chief, his spouse and a few close associates ahead of the much-talked- about elections before any credible reforms are effected, failed to materialise.
Secondly, at the end of the talks, possibly trying to earn lost ground, Zanu-PF negotiator Patrick Chinamasa issued a parallel "communiqué", the implications of which could fill a whole book on 'How Not to Make A Diplomatic Blunder'.
Despite travelling to London as a single supposedly united Zimbabwe GNU delegation, the unprecedented move by Mr Chinamasa (of issuing an arbitrary counter communiqué that does not represent the 3 parties to the talks) vindicated widely-held beliefs of Zanu-PF dominance and tendency to dictate every step amid accusations of operating a parallel regime.
The most bizarre part of the 'counter-communiqué ' issued by Mr Chinamasa relates to where he says that he complained about forced removals and deportations of Zimbabweans from the UK..blah blah blah. Really? Of all people, Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu-PF speaking on behalf of the Diaspora whom he paradoxically disenfranchised for exercising their right to reject the draft constitution in 2000?
Kate Hoey said she was "not surprised by his attitude entirely in keeping with what I would expect from Zanu-PF".
So will the politburo launch a top-level investigation into that incident?
Finally, and interestingly, one of the ZimVigil founders, Patson Muzuwa reportedly managed to smuggle himself into the Zimbabwe Embassy for a meeting attended by the three-member delegation and when the unsuspecting Chinamasa asked whether people had been ill-treated by Zanu-PF, Patson dismayed everyone by standing up and saying #Z11">'Yes, I have been tortured' [accessed 02/04/13].
As for the MDC formations, they performed relatively well, save for Mrs Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga's rather awkward pleas for sanctions on Mr Mugabe to be lifted before security sector and media reforms ahead of credible, peaceful free and fair harmonised elections. The MDC formations should rotate the negotiators rather than risk' group think' from the same people for five years.
It looks like Zanu-PF actually shot itself in the foot in London.
------------
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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