Kubatana was copied in on an email written by Dale Dore, a Harare based activist, to Eddie Cross an MDC stalwart. In his email Dale suggested that the MDC are powerless in the unity government and because of the numerous transgressions of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) the MDC should declare the power sharing government dead.

We still have a dictatorship in place in Zimbabwe albeit with a bit more money than it used to have.

Tsvangirai can only cite certain successes because Zanu PF has facilitated them. Anything vaguely unpopular with Zanu PF doesn’t get to see the light of day.

Jonathan Moyo in an article published by The Nation, in Kenya, called the unity government “self indulgent” and that Tsvangirai is “now groping in the dark  in a desperate search for non exist benchmarks of success.”

Tendai Dumbetshena writing for The Zimbabwe Times asserts that Mugabe has something sinister in mind, but then again when hasn’t he? Tendai does ask some very direct questions that we must insist on being answered. We don’t expect the true blue dictator Mugabe to do so but we do expect Tsvangirai to step up to the challenge:

The Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed on 15 September, 2008 – seven months ago. All issues pertaining to political reforms and human rights were contained in the GPA and Memorandum of Understanding that preceded it. Why do these issues remain outstanding after such a long time?

What is so difficult about repealing repressive legislation such as POSA and AIPPA? Why the delay in allowing the media to operate freely? Why does the government need an extra 100 days to, for example, lift the ban on international networks such as CNN, BBC, SKY and South Africa’s eTV. The above list of banned foreign media is by no means exhaustive.

Why do some MDC and civil society members still face charges for crimes that were not committed while those who actually murdered and tortured people have not been brought to justice? Where are the seven missing MDC members?

When will Roy Bennett be sworn in as deputy Minister of Agriculture? Will it also be done within the next 100 days? When will the endless talking stop and actual deeds begin?

Assurances from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his ministers count for nothing. In a major speech about three weeks ago the MDC leader threatened to arrest those who continued to invade farms and disrupt production. The mayhem continues and not a single person has been arrested. It is his people who languish in jail. The people who enforce law and order have disdain for Tsvangirai.

The MDC leadership must get real. It is excited beyond measure by the new titles, cars and other trappings of office. Its view of this inclusive government is defined by the material benefits it has yielded to those in government.

Tsvangirai and his colleagues must wake up from their comfort-induced slumber.

Serious people never allow themselves to be victims of naiveté or blinkered optimism. There is something sinister brewing in Mugabe’s mind. There is something sinister being hatched within Zanu-PF. If the MDC continues to act as if it has a genuine partner in this charade called an inclusive government a terrible fate awaits it.

Alex Magaisa rightly questions Zimbabwean politicians who educate their children outside Zimbabwe at great expense whilst allocating our teachers here at home a wage of US$100 a month.

And, now that they are in, the likes of Biti have a vested interest in the unity government’s success. That may not be a bad thing in itself. But they should be very wary of the old fox Mugabe. It was always believed his strategy would be to suck in the MDC and use its foreign credibility to revive the economy (and lift the travel bans on the president and his mates) while he and Zanu PF maintained control. Meanwhile, the MDC would be contaminated by association with Zanu PF. We have seen nothing to contradict that understanding of Mugabe’s game plan. Already we are seeing poor Tsvangirai trying to explain away the new farm invasions. Unless the MDC can get the rule of law restored very soon, it should pull out of this government. And even before then, it should hand back those Mercedes-Benzes, the very symbols of co-option. - Comment from the Cape Times SA, 6th April

One of the resolutions of the Victoria Falls Retreat was the reform and liberalisation of the media in Zimbabwe.

Freeing the airwaves should be a lot quicker than tackling the outrageous levels of unemployment or other infrastructural problems.

Perhaps the irony inherent in this BBC report doesn’t register in the minds of our reform promising politicians.

Inside the bars, the politicians mingled and cracked jokes. As the retreat drew to a close, a musical show was staged by a popular local Sungura musician, Tongayi Moyo. After feasting on a buffet, the ministers took to the dance floor, outside the elegant pool gardens of the hotel, next to the golf course. And Tongayi Moyo belted out his song “Things Must Change / Political Violence”, which is banned by the state broadcaster. The lyrics say: “You can’t continue practising violence for long, it will come to haunt you.” “The most decorated of military officers have their time, they won’t be saluted forever,” the song goes, adding “violence has its time, things must change”. Zanu PF ministers may not have been paying much attention to the lyrics. But they danced along anyway. Read more

Clearly its a case of It’s My Party and I’ll Dance If I Want To, because c’mon, we should all be able to turn the volume up on our radios and dance to Tongayi.

Media freedom, which is also one of the promises of the Global Political Agreement, is not being delivered on.

What other promises do you want to make sure are kept? Keep the politicians accountable. Contact JOMIC, the body responsible for monitoring adherence to the agreement on wncube (at) africaonline (dot) co (dot) zw  and cc funsthole (at) yahoo (dot) com

Congratulations to Zimbabwean writer Brian Chikwava on the publishing of his new book, Harare North. The Kubatana team are Fans of Brian; clearly we’re more into artists than politicians! Sometime ago, okay a few years back, we interviewed Brian and in so doing launched our series of Inside/Out interviews. Go on, they’re worth a read!

Anyway, here’s Brian from way back when; I’m reminded that we both have the same favourite journey.

Inside/Out with author Brian Chikwava
Kubatana.net
January 16, 2006

Describe yourself in five words?
Short, stained teeth, highly strung

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
To use witchcraft against the state

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever done?
Search for a n’anga who could show me how to strike someone with lightning

What is your most treasured possession?
Empathy

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Mental illness

Do you have any strange hobbies?
Counting pigeons after a good drink

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Teeth

What is your greatest extravagance?
Fanta and a rock bun

What have you got in your fridge?
1 beer and rotten milk

What is your greatest fear?
Not waking up in the morning

What have you got in your pockets right now?
Nothing

What is your favourite journey?
To the bar

Who are your heroes in real life?
The man on the street (in Zim)

When and where were you happiest?
This memory has faded away

What’s your biggest vice?
Sleeping all day when I know I have work to do

What were you like at school?
Reticent

What are you doing next?
Running away from the landlord before he comes to collect his rent

*Brian Chikwava is a Zimbabwean writer and musician. He won the fifth annual Caine Prize for African writing in 2004

Statements making a whole lot of sense have just come in from a grassroots meeting held in Shamva and organised by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. Maybe these demands go without saying but just in case cabinet ministers are fuzzy headed from their Vic Falls shindig here’s a reminder of what people on the ground are expecting from the inclusive government.

- People should be resettled after their displacement during the elections in 2008
- An autonomous compensation fund should be established to assist those affected by political violence
- The Shamva mine should be reopened as the people of Shamva depend on it for their livelihoods
- All perpetrators of political violence must be brought before the law
- David Coltart, the newly appointed Education Minister must review schools fees because most people cannot afford them
- Politicians must be held accountable for their actions and we must avoid the immediate post independence complacency
- The constitutional reform process must be participatory and people driven
- The airwaves must be opened to allow diversity of expression
- There must be a transparent difference between political party activities and state activities