MPC Speaks out on latest ZANU-MDC Marriage of 11th February

"We are grateful to a forumite at New Zimbabwe warning MPC and Zapu to be wary of the merger between MDC and Zanu-PF."MPC wishes to make it clear that it saw and warned of this danger as early as September 2008 when the so-called agreement between Zanu-PF and MDC was announced. Please re-visit the attached Statement MPC released at the time of the so-called agreement in September 2008.Please pay particular attention to paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 13.

Thank you.

K Dube
MPC Director of Communications

M P CMthwakazi People’s Convention

STATEMENT ON THE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZANU-PF AND MDC MADE IN HARARE ON THE 11th SEPTEMBER 2008

1. MPC learns and receives with regret the power-sharing agreement made between Zanu-PF and MDC on the 11th September 2008, which is to be officially signed on Monday, 15th September 2008. But this is hardly surprising. Once again we see the people of present-day Zimbabwe betrayed on the altar of political convenience, opportunism and self-serving political interests. We ask; what have all those who died in the just-ended election period, and before, die for?
2. We learn with further regret that the agreement is about power-sharing not good governance or the political future of present-day Zimbabwe. MPC has long said that both Zanu-PF and the MDC are fixated with power and not governance or the political future of present-day Zimbabwe. This agreement puts paid to any doubts whatsoever about that.

3. This agreement is also a political fraud designed to pull a rug over the world’s face and conceal the real motives behind the agreement. The agreement fools no one. It is not difficult for the world to know that this agreement is about enabling Zanu-PF and Mr Mugabe to access international finance support and dig themselves out of the present economic mire, while at the same time enabling Mr Tsvangirai to access power, with which he is so intoxicated, and to secure a State Residence.

4. MPC wants to point out that this is not a political agreement of the people of present-day Zimbabwe. It is, as it says, a power-sharing agreement between Zanu-PF and the MDC. It is once again a cynical move to privatise a political process that should be owned by the people.

5. MPC will not attempt to apportion blame for the violence that has characterised Zimbabwean politics since the advent and entry into the political arena of the MDC. What we know and is now public knowledge is that both Zanu-PF and the MDC-T faction have been involved in inter and intra-party violence that has killed and maimed innocent people. The death of one person for political reasons is one death too many. We thought the lessons of Gukurahundi had been learnt. Clearly they have not. Clearly, both Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai are not fit and proper persons for high office, whether it be as President or Prime Minister. They are dangerous people.

6. MPC condemns this agreement as cynical, mischievous and destined to achieve nothing politically. In a short while, Zanu-PF and the MDC must face each other in another round of elections. The political implications are too grave to contemplate. The implications are even worse if the two parties are on the same side, against others.

7. MPC also condemns Zanu-PF and MDC’s preoccupation with a so-called Government of National Unity (GNU), something both parties have achieved through violence. We also condemn their rejection, for obvious political reason, of a Transitional Government (TG).

8. MPC has long called for the establishment of an all-inclusive political process, recently supported by civic groups in Zimbabwe, to discuss, openly, the political problems of present-day Zimbabwe. We have called for the Convention on a Democratic Alternative for present-day Zimbabwe (Codaz). We re-affirm our call for Codaz. Out of Codaz MPC calls for a new political and constitutional order which must be captured in a New Constitution. MPC stands by its view that a New Constitution cannot usher in a new political and constitutional order. Rather, a new political and constitutional order must give birth to a new constitution.

9. This so-called agreement reverses this basic tenet of democratic construction. We therefore regret that the mistakes of Lancaster are being repeated in 2008, this time with the help of our own brothers and sisters in the continent who should know better. But this time uMthwakazi will not stand idly by. Through MPC, uMthwakazi has and is putting its case to the world. The time when political leaders and parties rode roughshod over the true aspirations of the people are gone.

10. As MPC, and talking on behalf of Mthwakazi, we reiterate the point we have made many times before, that MDC and Zanu-PF are two sides of the same coin. By this agreement both parties have put paid to any doubts about that. Both parties have today confirmed that they are parties built and designed to eliminate uMthwakazi as a people and political force. By embracing and going to bed with Zanu-PF the MDC has today confirmed that it is part of and shares in Zanu-PF’s so-called Grand Plan and the Zimbabwe Project, shadowy plans targeted at and designed to erase uMthwakazi politically and permanently. We know that despite public posturing by Mr Tsvangirai, this deal was easy to make because it completes the political dominance of the Shona over uMthwakazi. MPC long predicted such an agreement. Despite the political goodwill and generosity of the world in relation to Mr Tsvangirai, what draws him to Mr Mugabe and Mr Mugabe to him, and those of similar mind within those two parties, is ominous for uMthwakazi.

11. We restate it here. Zanu-PF and the MDC have never been divided politically. Rather, and clearly, they have merely disagreed on how to share power between themselves. Today, through this so-called agreement, they have put that question to rest. The truth is now out there for everybody to see.

12. MPC remains of the considered view that it is never too late to correct this political error. We call on both parties to reconsider the far-reaching implications of their so-called agreement. We also call on the mediators and the world to reaffirm and uphold the fundamental principle on which democracy is founded, namely; full, informed and free participation of the citizenry in political processes that affect them. The charade of elections ever held in Zimbabwe under Zanu-PF rule, and the sham presidential elections recently concluded, are matters of international knowledge. The world cannot and must not endorse and legitimise this political fraud.

13. Finally, Mthwakazi, this is not a time for dithering. The political implications of this so-called agreement are far worse and far tragic for Mthwakazi than the so-called Unity Accord could ever be. Let us all say, as Mthwakazians and as a people and proud nation, we will not be politically finished off while we draw breath. We owe it to our children and children’s children to say so.

MPC - Department of Communications