MDC says it is disturbed by the non-compliance by Zanu-PF with agreement

RESOLUTIONS OF THE 2ND NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 17TH OF MAY 2009, FLAMBOYANT HOTEL, MASVINGO

ACKNOWLEDGING the inauguration of the Transitional Government on the 16th of February 2009.

NOTING the outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement including the issues of the Provincial Governors, Ambassadors, permanent secretaries, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor and the Attorney-General,

DISTURBED by the continuous incidences of toxic and non-compliance on issues including;

(a) the continued farm invasions,
(b) the failure to swear in Roy Bennett,
(c) the unilateralism including the shifting of ministerial mandates,
(d) the failure of the National Security Council to meet,
(e) the continuous detention and re-detention of political and civic society activists, lawyers and journalists,
(f) the continued politicisation of State institutions,
(g) the continued partial and unequal reporting by the State media and
(h) the selective application of the law and the persecution of MDC Members of Parliament and activists including the “convictions” of Hon Mathias Matewu Mlambo and Hon Lynnette Karenyi

FURTHER DISTURBED by the lack of delivery of the Transitional Government on key areas of National Healing, media reforms, the legislative reform agenda, the slow pace of Constitutional Reform and the lack of re-orientation of the security forces.

Now therefore, the National Council resolves that;

1. All outstanding issues in the GPA should forthwith be referred to SADC and the African Union as the guarantors to the GPA.

2. JOMIC should be more effective and monitor the full and proper implementation of the GPA.

3. The Transitional Government should urgently deal with issues of governance, national healing, democratisation and the rule of law.

4. The National Security Council must be convened in terms of the law.

5. The Herald and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation must reform and report equally, fairly and consistently in line with the GPA.

6. The MDC, as a party of excellence, remains steadfast in its quest, drive and vision for a new and democratic Zimbabwe.

For and behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. Adopted on 17th May 2009.

Together to the end, marching to a new Zimbabwe.

Issued by the Movement for Democratic Change, May 18 2009

Contending for Restoration of Democracy

By Kenneth Mawomo

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is a Zimbabwean political party formed in 1999. It was formed to provide an alternative for the people of Zimbabwe to the ZANU PF dominated government in power since the country got independence in 1980.

Rule of Law

The MDC sought to address a number of problems facing the country. These included arresting a decline in the economy, rooting out wide spread corruption by the ruling elite and restoration of the rule of law. Over the years only the people with close links to the ruling elite had thrived. There was a deliberate and sustained effort to stifle freedom of speech and trample human rights. The ruling elite had a total disregard for the rule of law.

For ordinary Zimbabweans the standard of living was falling rapidly as unemployment rose due to companies closing down because of the adverse economic conditions. For a country once regarded as a bread basket of Africa food shortages and hunger were becoming the norm. A brain drain only made the situation worse as schools and hospitals staff and other skilled workers left the country for greener pastures. The MDC was determined to put an end to this. Zimbabwe once a respectable member of the International community had become a pariah state.

Since its formation the MDC has taken part in two presidential and three parliamentary elections and has increased its share of parliament seats and its popularity.  Zimbabweans had realised they had to be involved in order to change the status quo-hence the party slogan “Chinja Maitiro, Guqula Izenzo”.(Which literally translated means  “change your way of doing things”.)

Flawed Elections

As the MDC support base surged, violence escalated with the ruling elite intimidating the opposition in a bid to maintain the status quo. In the March 2008 election the MDC finally won a parliamentary majority. In addition the Party President Mr. Morgan Tsvangirayi got the most votes out of three participating candidates. His margin of victory was however not enough for him to be declared an outright winner according to Zimbabwean constitution.

A delay in announcing the final results by the Electoral Commission fuelled the suspicion that the results had been manipulated. Because of the dispute and the violence that followed the announcements of the final results the MDC decided to boycott the subsequent run off. The MDC did not want to legitimise a flawed process by participating in the run off. The only candidate in the “election” was declared the winner The result was rejected by the MDC, which led to a wave of more violence targeted at the MDC members.

Global Political Agreement

In a bid to resolve the situation the Africa Union (AU) led by South Africa mediated in negotiations for several months. After several months of tough negotiations and pressure from the AU the MDC decided to sign the GPA with Zanu PF which culminated in the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU). As part of the agreement various issues were agreed which had to be implemented in the spirit of the GNU. One of them was that the MDC president was to become the Prime Minister of the country. The MDC made it clear that it was only going into the GNU in order to alleviate the suffering of the people but was not convinced of the other party’s sincerity. This has since been vindicated as some of the issues are still to be resolved four months after the formation of the GNU.

The MDC is now a well established political party with a lot of support up and down the country. Apart from membership in the country, the MDC also has members in the Diaspora. The members are based in countries such as the USA, UK and Australia and other countries. The party is divided into provinces for administrative purposes, with UK and Ireland being one of the provinces outside Zimbabwe. Provinces are further divided into districts and then branches.

MDC Leicester

Leicester is part of the Midlands north district. The Leicester branch is involved in various activities which include raising awareness of the MDC and also recruiting more members. Its objectives which include a fight for democracy and the restoration of the rule of the law in Zimbabwe has led to many more members joining the party.

Other activities include fundraising for various projects here in the UK and in Zimbabwe. One of the main projects the MDC is involved in is the twinning programme of branches overseas with constituencies in Zimbabwe. This enables the branches to channel their help more directly to individual constituents. MDC Leicester branch is twinned with Binga-South, Bubi, Lupani-East and Lupani-West.

Help in the past has been in the form money, clothes and books. This year there are plans to send agricultural inputs in time for the farming season. Fundraising activites are held regularly to raise money and include sale of MDC T shirts and other functions.

At the Leicester branch, meetings are held every fortnight at St. Peter’s Community Hall in Highfields. The last meeting was held on the Saturday the second of May 2nd 2009. At that meeting members had a chance to deliberate on among other things the progress made so far by the Unity Government. Although it was noted that some things are improving like the availability of the goods in shops members felt that a lot of issues remain unresolved.

Richard Jaramba said it appears the school fees were still high citing the example of Solusi College where he said the students are being asked to pay USD1200 per term. The Organising Secretary did however say that was probably because it is a private institution so not a good yardstick. Sheila Ndarukwa said she understood from her relatives back home that things were now more readily available in the shops. However another member Mary Muteyerwa felt this was not helpful since the people did not have money to buy the goods given that a lot of people still do not have jobs.

Another member Dominic Mugumbate was of the opinion that it is a bit misleading to attribute the availability of goods in shops to the government. He said the government‘s duty is to provide public services and should be judged on this basis. He went on to say as long as rubbish is not being collected, piped water not available all the time, electricity supply still being erratic, roads littered with potholes then  nothing much had changed.

The Secretary general Pelani Ziba outlined some of the issues still outstanding which include the of whereabouts of 5 missing MDC members, the appointment of the Reserve Bank Governor and the appointment of the Attorney General. There was a feeling that as long as these issues were not resolved there would cast doubt on the commitment of the other party to the GNU.

The next meeting is scheduled for the 16th of May at the same venue. New members are always welcome to join the party and help in the rebuilding of the country. For more details please call the Leicester Branch Chairman Tawanda Machakaire on 07919678788, or the Organising Secretary Pelani Ziba on 07903931659.

*Kenneth Mawomo is a Volunteer Citizen Journalist with HAT News

Also see related story: MDC Leicester Branch Meetings

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