The gimmick, this time, being the irretrievable deterioration of relations in the GNU emanating from the MDC’s working with Washington to effect regime change.
Mugabe told his party’s central committee on Wednesday that Zanu PF should “review and take stock of its participation in the so-called inclusive government” after the leaking of the cables by WikiLeaks, a controversial website.
Prior to the meetings, hawks in the party had for close to a fortnight been shouting themselves hoarse in calling for the setting up of a commission of inquiry to probe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. This is in relation to his briefings with US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray, which are contained in some of the cables.
They are calling for the premier to be charged with treason on the grounds that he was not genuine in calling for the lifting of sanctions and that he is working Nicodemously with the US to effect regime change. The state media has also gone into overdrive to portray Tsvangirai as a puppet of the West.
It is worth noting that Mugabe’s posture belies his claimed sincerity in fully implementing the tenets of the Global Political Agreement. While committing themselves in terms of the letter, they have remained antithetical in spirit since its conception. They have consistently thrown spanners into the GNU works with sanctions being the main rallying point for non-compliance.
With the release of the cables by WikiLeaks, Zanu PF have found an affable excuse to justify their intransigence and to end the inclusive government.
As usual, Zanu PF has sieved the contents of the cables, completely ignoring the parts referring to the indiscretion within their ranks.
Tsvangirai in dismissing the Zanu PF apologists’ call for him to resign over the WikiLeaks revelations has rightly queried the selective use of the cables. Where the MDC is concerned, they are factual, whilst on Zanu PF officials the cables are deemed as lies.
National Constitutional Assembly chairperson, Dr Lovemore Madhuku, was quoted by our sister newspaper, NewsDay, saying: “You cannot wish prosecution of the Prime Minister on the basis of the WikiLeaks report, while ignoring those named in the same report as the chief culprits in the illegal mining and sale of the diamonds in Chiadzwa. Those are serious allegations deserving an inquiry.”
The irony of these Zanu PF zealots’ call for Tsvangirai’s resignation seems completely lost on them. People like Jonathan Moyo, who were allegedly at the forefront of the plot to re-jig the presidium during the Tsholotsho debacle –– arguably a treasonous offence –– are now again at the forefront of accusing the premier of the same. Time and again members of the security establishment have brazenly stated their disdain for the ballot as a means of regime change threatening to “go back to the bush” if their candidate loses. Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said: “This country came through blood and the barrel of the gun and it can never be re-colonised through a simple pen, which costs as little as five cents.”
Only last month Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa stated at a lavish party hosted by Zanu PF that: “If you don’t vote for us in the next election, this country is huge, we will rule even if you don’t want.”
No guesses for the results of commissions of inquiry into such statements, which in our view are treasonous. Zanu PF should consider refraining from throwing stones from inside its giant glass house.
Constantine Chiimakure