Comment: Zimbabwe situation - In need of attention

While Zimbabwe’s political crisis filled the headlines last year, the most recent twists in the ongoing power struggle have barely registered in the mainstream media. Daily updates of President Obama’s first days in office, the delicate peace settlement in Gaza and the constant stream of job losses have pushed the Zimbabwean situation down the news agenda, just as the crisis reaches a pivotal moment.

Contrary to the power-sharing agreement he made with opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai last September, President Robert Mugabe refuses to concede the ministries with which his government has oppressed and coerced the Zimbabwean people, like the Home Affairs and Information ministries. Mugabe has also been reluctant to hand over the Finance ministry, currently overseeing the country’s dire financial crisis.

As we in the UK worry about the value of the pound against the Euro, the Zimbabwean dollar’s inflation continues to spin out of control. This month saw the introduction of the Z$ Trillion note, worth around £20, which would have bought Z$ 100,000 six months ago. The currency is now so unstable that US dollars and South African rand have become legal tender.

The day before Obama was sworn in, Tsvangirai and Mugabe held an inconclusive crisis meeting which ended no closer to an agreement on who should hold which portfolios.

While the political chess game continues, people suffer. The recent Cholera outbreak has now killed over 2,000 and infected over 39,000 according to Human Rights Watch estimates made two weeks ago.

The political process now moves onto a specially convened SADC (Southern African Development Community) summit this week. However, early indications aren’t promising. After Monday’s meeting, one MDC official told Reuters, "We are worlds apart. If we were (inches) apart, we are now miles apart".

South Africa could be a key actor as SADC’s largest member, but it currently faces a complex transition in leadership with presidents past, present and future all exerting influence. Thabo Mbeki who was ousted as President last September has been a key figure in the negotiations so far and continues to act as mediator. Kgalema Motlanthe, the country’s acting President is hosting the current summit, yet his influence is undermined by the fact he will soon, in all likelihood, be replaced by ANC leader Jacob Zuma.


Despite the governments of Zambia and Botswana taking a strong line against Mugabe, it seems unlikely that SADC as a whole will pressure Mugabe into conceding the key ministries to the MDC. Perversely, this SADC conference may be the last chance the MDC has to be included in the cabinet, with Zimbabwean Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga telling South African public broadcaster SAfm, "whether there is an agreement or there is no agreement, President Mugabe is going to form a Cabinet". If no agreement is made, it looks as though Mugabe will ignore international pressure and struggle on as President, without the MDC, as he has done for the last 21 years. At this crucial point, more than ever, Zimbabwe needs the world’s attention.

Update: January 2009

It turns out I was extremely optimistic in my previous post, prior to Christmas. Events now seem to have made peace in Palestine/Israel a distant dream. I have also been highly disappointed by Obama's silence on this issue. Ok, he is not yet President, but Israel seems to have timed this attack to take advantage of the power vacuum in Washington. As ever the calls, especially from the US administration, for a ceasefire require more responsibility for the Palestinians than the Israeli's despite the Israelis having killed 688 Palestinians compared to the 10 Israeli's killed by the Palestinians.

I just hope the international community would start pressurising Israel into stopping this attack as soon as possible, rather than having loose rhetoric. Condemning Israel doesn't mean you are approving militants related to Hamas, the rest of the international community needs to understand that.