Zimbabwe: Unity Govt Committee Has No Power, Admits Chair

SW Radio Africa (London)

Tererai Karimakwenda

23 March 2011

An admission has finally come from one of the officials heading the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC), that the institution has no power to stop the deterioration of the political situation in Zimbabwe.

In the wake of escalating political violence and illegal arrests of activists JOMIC co-chairperson, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, reportedly admitted on Tuesday that the committee had no power to end the crisis in the country and was looking to SADC to intervene.

Describing the turn of events as a “smart coup”, Mushonga said JOMIC and other civic organizations had been rendered useless. “There is nothing we can do because JOMIC is a creature of the inclusive government, whose decisions are being overridden,” she is quoted as saying.

The statement has been welcomed by many observers who also noted that the committee never had any power in the first place. Luke Zunga of the Global Zimbabwe Forum, described Mushonga’s admission as a positive first step that can lead to alternative actions. “It is a confirmation of what we have been saying. The GPA is a non-starter and this is an opportunity to look elsewhere,” said Zunga.

Regarding the next step, Mushonga said that all JOMIC could do was write reports about incidents in the country and forward them to the SADC facilitation team of South Africa’s president Zuma. The team would then report to the SADC troika and then to SADC summits.

This approach drew criticism from Zunga, who said it is widely accepted that SADC has no political will to change the situation in Zimbabwe. “We need to look past SADC and past the AU because they will not do anything to help end the Zimbabwean crisis,” said Zunga.

He added: “Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai should use his authority as a top government official to legally approach the United Nations and seek their help removing a dictator.”

Just last week Tsvangirai told journalists that “dark and sinister” forces had engaged in a “hostile takeover” in running the affairs of the country. Speaking at a press conference on his return from a tour where he briefed regional leaders about the ongoing crackdown, Tsvangirai admitted the coalition government was not working.

Zunga said the Prime Minister and the MDC should now focus on convincing the UN that it is up to them to help Zimbabweans, because no help is coming from SADC and the AU.

He described the growing acceptance by MDC officials that they have no power, and their willingness to admit this, as an encouraging sign.

AllAfrica – All the Time