Zimbabwe: Civic groups express disquiet over pace of reforms

The Standard (Zimbabwe) - June 15, 2009.

Harare (Zimbabwe) — Delays in resolving outstanding issues from the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and mounting evidence that some of President Robert Mugabe's close lieutenants are determined to slow down the pace of democratic reforms continue to undermine the credibility of the hybrid government, civic groups have warned.

The recent controversy over President Mugabe's unilateral appointments of Attorney- General, Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank governor, Gideon Gono has exposed serious fault lines in the fledgling coalition.

MDC-T and Zanu PF officials have also clashed over media reforms that were guaranteed in the GPA.

The MDC-T recently referred the dispute over Gono and Tomana to Sadc for arbitration, while differences over media reform are now playing out in the courts after four freelance journalists challenged the continued existence of the Media and Information Commission (MIC).

High Court judge Justice Bharat Patel ruled recently that the MIC was a legal nullity but the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu and his permanent secretary George Charamba are contesting the ruling.

In a new publication reflecting on the inclusive government's first 100 days compiled by the Crisis Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC), 14 civic organisations say all the hope they had in the coalition was "dying a slow death."

The publication is titled 100 days into the inclusive government: A compendium of reflections from civil society organisations.

"As we reflect on the recent past we have to admit that nothing much has changed," the Ecumenical Support Services said in its assessment.

"Many negative things are still happening around the country which we do not expect to happen under a government which the MDC is part and parcel of."

The faith-based organisation said human rights violations still persisted to an extent that the international donor community has refused to extend financial assistance to the inclusive government.

Arbitrary arrests of journalists and human rights defenders have marred the unity government's first three months in office, fuelling fears residual elements from Mugabe's previous administration were working hard to torpedo the coalition.

CZC describes the first three months as a period of extended negotiation mainly because of an apparent tug of war around roles and responsibilities between Zanu PF and the MDC.

"In addition, prolonged inaction on issues that were outstanding on the day the government went into business, an unrepentant bureaucracy that is still largely manned by Zanu PF apologists at its apex, residual antagonistic elements who still want to see the death of the marriage of convenience and normal dynamics of group cohesion and formation represent the major stumbling blocks," the group said.

Organisations representing students, churches, people with disabilities and human rights defenders felt that the battle to control government in the first three months had shifted the focus away from the country's worsening humanitarian situation.

Aid agencies say three quarters of Zimbabweans need food assistance while the situation in education and health sectors still remains critical.

"Although the inclusive government is rightly focusing attention on economic stabilization and recovery and political allocation of power it should not lose sight of the people's needs and aspirations," the Students Christian Movement of Zimbabwe said in its submission.

However, the groups were unanimous that the transitional government remains the only way out of the country's long running economic and political problems.