The Movement for Democratic Change’s shadow cabinet today blasted President Robert Mugabe for castigating Information Minister Jonathan Moyo but doing nothing to restore the credibility and performance of his administration.
Mugabe accused Moyo at the weekend if dividing the party calling him a “devil incarnate” and a “weevil” but Moyo is back at work as if nothing happened.
“The Alternative Cabinet noted that it is ridiculous for a whole president to complain about his own minister at a funeral without assuring the nation on what he is doing to restore the credibility and performance legitimacy of his administration,” the party said in a statement signed by Shadow Minister for Media and Communication Nelson Chamisa.
The cabinet said it was reckless for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to chide editors for not towing the ZANU-PF line because the media is supposed to be independent and free.
The MDC cabinet also criticised the appointment of Godwills Masimirembwa to the CMED board saying this was a clear indication that ZANU-PF was suffering from either a crisis of manpower or a perennial disease of recycling deadwood.
It also expressed concern at the policy flip flopping by ZANU-PF saying that this undermined investor and citizen confidence.
Full statement:
Thursday, 12 June 2014
President Tsvangirai chairs crucial Alternative Cabinet meeting
The Alternative Cabinet today met to deliberate on various issues affecting Zimbabweans. In particular, special focus was on the collapse of governance, lack of leadership, a crumbling economic activity, total collapse of the industry, rapid unemployment and man made poverty.
The Alternative Cabinet noted with concern the rising unemployment, general economic meltdown and closure of companies. Over the past few months, companies have been closing, laying off thousands of workers, leaving families in circumstances of destitution.
Some of the issues deliberated upon are as follows:-
1. Alignment of all laws to the Constitution
The MDC Alternative Cabinet is alarmed that the Zanu PF government is failing to commence and complete the simple but important national task of aligning all laws to the dictates of the new Charter. It is exactly 11 months after the Zanu PF government manipulated the will of the people on the 31st of July 2013 yet there is no tangible evidence of both political will and capacity to allow the laws of the country to be in line with the spirit and letter of the constitution.
More importantly, the Zanu PF government is not even willing to consummate the dictates of certain constitutional provisions. In particular, the issue of devolution; entrenchment of the human rights culture and accountability in institutions of the state have not been implemented.
2. Unconstitutionality and unilateralism concerning Electoral amendments
The MDC rejects the unilateral amendments to the Electoral Act made by Zanu PF. The amendments where railroaded through parliament without due public consultation and participation. This confirms the Zanu PF default setting of rigging processes and manipulating institutions for partisan interests.
The MDC restates that the country needs comprehensive electoral reforms to permanently address the perennial problem of the rigging of elections and disputed election results. In fact, there can never be any credible election in Zimbabwe without any comprehensive reforms.
3. Policy flip-flopping by Zanu PF
The Cabinet noted with great concern the policy flip flopping and lack of clarity on the part of Zanu PF. Ministers of the same Cabinet have taken turns to contradict each other on where the government stands on the controversial indigenisation policy. This lack of clarity has undermined investor and citizen confidence, with very dire effects on the economy.
The MDC government believes in broad based economic upliftment programmes that focus on value addition, community infrastructure support programmes, skills transfer and allocation of value to citizens on the basis of the benefit derived out of the whole value chain.
The MDC government seeks to build a modern, healthy, functional, integrated developmental state with a vibrant, socially just green economy that takes pride at leaving no one behind.The so-called ZimAsset programme has proved to be a major hoax with nothing beyond the value of propaganda and sloganeering. The MDC government urges Zimbabweans to embrace the viable alternative policy programme, the Agenda for Real Transformation, ART, being provided by the MDC.
The ART programme focuses on inclusive growth and poverty reduction while ensuring micro-economic stability and job creation anchored on infrastructure development, food security and social services delivery.
4. Corruption
The latest appointment of Mr Masimirembwa at CMED does not inspire confidence. Zanu PF has failed and or reneged on their electoral promise to provide the promised two million jobs, succeeding in creating more jobs for the boys. Mr Masimirembwa being the new kid on the block with a checkered history at the ZMDC.
Zanu PF seems to be suffering from either a crisis of manpower or a perennial disease of recycling deadwood. As if that is not enough, the land allocation system has been dogged by accusations and counter accusations of corruption by top Zanu PF functionaries. Clearly, corruption seems to be second nature to the Zanu PF administration.
The MDC government, while acknowledging the importance of agrarian reform, calls for the establishment of a genuinely independent Land Commission that permanently looks into the land reform and deal with issues of land tenure in a sustainable and economically viable manner. Land belongs to all Zimbabweans and as such must be treated as an important national asset.
5. Collapse of Zanu PF Government
The Alternative Cabinet noted that it is ridiculous for a whole president to complain about his own minister at a funeral without assuring the nation on what he is doing to restore the credibility and performance legitimacy of his administration. Further, it is actually reckless for Zanu PF to chide editors of newspapers for not towing the Zanu PF line. In the first place, the media is supposed to be independent and free without any interference, being pro-people and not pro-Zanu PF.
Section 61(4) of the Zimbabwe Constitution emphasize that all state media must be free to determine its editorial content of their broadcast or other communications and must be impartial affording fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.
6. Civil servants
The civil servants pay remains miserably low with pay dates being constantly changed. This in fact, constitutes a threat to national stability and service delivery.
Conclusion
The MDC Alternative Cabinet decries the lack of ideas within this institutionalised kleptocracy characterised by an irredeemable and inevitable national decay. Therefore, the Alternative Cabinet calls for the immediate dissolution and disbandment of the Zanu PF government to pave way for the resolution of the political and economic crisis through free and fair election conducted under a fresh dispensation of comprehensive and all inclusive electoral reforms.
Any day longer under the current administration is a further subtraction of value and dignity from the citizenry.
Hon Nelson Chamisa, MP
Alternative Minister, Media and Communications.
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