PM’s speech: long on words and short on action
We have just had 3 days dedicated to peace, healing and reconciliation; an initiative driven by the 3 political parties, ZANU PF, MDC-M and MDC-T’s joint Organ for National Healing.
In his speech on the 24th July, the Prime Minister made impressive remarks on national healing, reconciliation and integration. He noted at the outset that the dedication marked the beginning of what can only be “a long but essential journey to heal our nation”. He also made the very important point that there can be “no short cuts on this journey and no easy way to deal wit the pain and suffering that has been experienced by so many of our people”. The process must be “open, genuine and frank”. That is all very good. In terms of the theory, the PM hit all the right notes touching on issues of transitional justice, help for victims to begin to build their lives, truth and acceptance of responsibility for wrongs done. He had most people nodding their heads in agreement as he went through his speech.
The PM’s speech however was woefully inadequate when it came to concrete action. There were no definitive pronouncements from him regarding the actions his government was going to take to make sure that all these wonderful ideals were realised. Listening to his speech l kept saying to myself at different points in his speech; “so what are you going to do about that,” until it became a never ending refrain until suddenly the speech was over.
The PM could have and should have taken this opportunity to announce the plans his government has put in place to begin to address the issues. What plans for justice for the Gukurahundi massacres? Even though he extolled the virtues of justice, the PM should be reminded that justice delayed is justice denied. This process cannot be unduly long. Does his government have a time frame for gathering the views of the victims of those and other atrocities? From his speech, it would appear that the Organ for National Healing has only been charged with undertaking “grassroots consultation” to define the form and content of the healing programme.
I am worried that the PM can acknowledge that “the State media continues to propagate hate speech and political divisions through publishing of blatant lies and deliberate distortions” but he does not propose any action to remedy this. What does that signify? Is he powerless to put a stop to it? If a crime is being committed by the State media, why doesn’t he charge the police to investigate and the Attorney General to prosecute the culprits? Who is the PM asking whether the next election will be held in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect? Who is he asking whether government institutions will act with impartiality, openness and accountability? Who should hold the answers to these questions if not the government of which he is a significant part? If as he says the cooperation and communication at top of the political spectrum is not cascading down the party structures, what is he going to do about it, seeing as he occupies the highest seat in his party’s structure? What has he done with his counterparts in the other party formations?
We have been asking these questions of our elected leaders. We demand answers to those questions. If the people who disrupted the Constitutional Reform consultative process were identified, why did the PM not insist on their being arrested? If the State media continues to propagate hate speech, is that not a crime? If these crimes then are prosecuted would that not send a message to anyone else so inclined that we are under a new political dispensation and any behaviour that undermines the rule of law will not be tolerated. If no consequences follow their actions, isn’t that how impunity happens Mr PM?
A last word for the PM and his team in the Organ for National Healing;
Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.
- Oscar Romero