Zimbabwe Unity Government: The big cover-up

Is Tsvangirai covering up Mugabe's misdemeanours?

By Violet Gonda

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been making statements that people find hard to reconcile with events on the ground. There is speculation as to whether he is trying too hard to make this controversial unity government work.

This weekend he told thousands of party supporters: "We respect each other, although we may disagree. There's nothing (Robert) Mugabe does without me approving and there is nothing I do without him approving."People are questioning what could have made the Prime Minister make such a statement, at a time when his own Director of security, Chris Dhlamini, and former aide Gandhi Mudzingwa, are being hounded by the police and are under an illegal arrest. And to what extent has the Prime Minister been consulted on the ZANU PF led violent farm invasions campaign?

Observers say the trouble is by saying such things Tsvangirai makes himself equally responsible or accepting liability for ZANU PF's wrongdoings. If it is the case that the two leaders respect and consult each other, did Mugabe consult Tsvangirai when he appointed his own governors and permanent secretaries? If it is true that there's nothing Mugabe does without Tsvangirai approval, why are the political rivals locked in a stalemate over issues to do with appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney General?

Political commentator Professor John Makumbe said: "I think it's an
exaggeration of the reality on the ground in the sense that there are things that Mugabe has done without consulting either Morgan or Arthur (Mutambara) and these things have been challenged by Tsvangirai and Mutambara. So I think he is really covering for Mugabe's misdemeanours - which is really not necessary. He should tell it like it is, that it is a daily battle and that Mugabe would like to run the country as if the MDC or the GNU do not exist."

To some extent it is natural for a politician to put a spin on government policies, to remain consistent with the principle of collective responsibility. Makumbe also believes that to some extent the Prime Minister is left with little choice, saying a collapsed government of national unity could mean going straight back to violence.

But the commentator added that Tsvangirai does not have to try so hard to sanitise Mugabe's appalling behaviour.

International donors are not fooled by this inclusive arrangement and have sepeatedly said they will only increase the flow of aid to Zimbabwe when the government respects the rule of law and property rights.