Don't make us pay for working with Mugabe

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

April 1, 2009

In his first article since taking office Zimbabwe's Prime Minister states
his ambition to move from aid to trade with the West


Morgan Tsvangirai

On February 11, 2009, I took an oath as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe to work
relentlessly to create a society where values are stronger than the threat
of violence, where the future happiness of children is more important than
partisan political goals and where a person is free to express an opinion,
loudly, openly and publicly, without fear of reprisal or repression.

To create a country where jobs are available for those who wish to work,
food is available for those who are hungry and where we are united by our
respect for the rights and dignity of our fellow citizens.

This is the country we are working to build and although Zimbabwe is not yet
a democracy, it is on its way to becoming one. Our success on this journey
will depend on this new, transitional Government, our people and the
international partners who will work with us to realise this vision for our
country.

The political agreement that lead to the formation of this new Government is
not perfect. I have stated my concerns on many occasions, as has President
Mugabe.

I have also stated that it is a workable agreement and by that I mean that
it can help to alleviate the suffering of the Zimbabwean people and allow
the country to move forward peacefully to a new constitution and fresh
elections.
With regard to the former, the new Government has already made small but
significant progress. We have started paying civil servants a monthly
allowance to allow the public sector to begin working again and provide an
essential stimulus to the economy. We have overseen the opening of hospitals
and schools, the taming of hyperinflation, the lowering of prices of basic
commodities and the rationalisation of utility tariffs. Most importantly,
this new political dispensation has delivered hope to a country devoid of
optimism or expectation.

These achievements are a fraction of what the country requires to start
functioning normally again. It was, however, the knowledge that we could
make an immediate and positive impact on the lives of all Zimbabweans that
guided my party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to enter the
agreement brokered by the regional Southern African Development Community.

As I write this article, I know that we made the correct decision. The past
six weeks have proved what we are able to do, not just as a party, but as
part of an inclusive Government. For, in deciding to embrace the political
pragmatism of our regional neighbours, we entered this administration in the
spirit of the agreement, embracing its inclusivity and abiding by its letter
with regard to the implementation of the transitional measures it contains.

Before entering this Government, we knew that most public servants, and
Zimbabweans from all walks of life, were desperate for the positive
commitments that the agreement contained. We also knew that elements of the
old regime would resist these measures and attempt to obstruct any positive
progress.

Happily, we underestimated the number of people who would embrace the
opportunities that our country now has, but, sadly, we were correct in
allowing for the residual resistance that we are now experiencing from a
small faction of non-democratic hardliners.

However, those who try to stand in the way of progress will either realise
that it is neither in their personal interests nor the nation's to continue
their obstructionist tendencies, or they will be swept aside by the
overwhelming momentum being generated as we move forward as a nation.

This does not mean that the success of this new Government is guaranteed.
Today Zimbabwe stands at a critical juncture that requires the MDC to stay
true to the ideals upon which it was founded. It requires Zanu (PF) to
embrace the commitments of this new agreement and it requires all of its
citizens to stand up for their rights as enshrined in the new political
agreement. This is also the time for the West to stand by the people of
Zimbabwe as they move towards the goal of freedom and prosperity.

I can think of no contemporary example of a people who have stood by their
belief in democracy more determinedly, peacefully or bravely than
Zimbabweans. Despite a decade of persecution and violent provocation,
Zimbabweans have refused to compromise their democratic ideals or their
belief in a future of dignity, prosperity and hope by lashing out at their
opponents in anger or despair. As Prime Minister and the leader of the
largest political party in Zimbabwe, I am immensely proud of my nation and
its peoples.

Zimbabweans should not have to pay a further price for their determination
to stand by their democratic ideals because the new Government does not meet
or match the "clean slate" or "total victory" standards expected by the
West. As stated earlier, this new Government is not perfect, but it does
represent all Zimbabweans - it is positive, it is peaceful, it is committed
to a new constitution and free and fair elections and, with international
support, it will succeed.

As Prime Minister, I am responsible for ensuring the formulation of policy
by the Cabinet and its implementation by the entire Government. It is my
responsibility to ensure that the commitments that this new Government has
made to restoring the rule of law, instituting a democratising legislative
agenda, ending persecution and freeing the media are implemented in the
shortest possible time. In this, the new Government is only now beginning to
realise the muscle that it has and to flex that muscle.

The West has been, and continues to be, the most generous provider of
humanitarian support, of which all Zimbabweans are aware and grateful for.
As a proud nation, we look forward to the day when we can develop our
relationship with the West beyond merely being a beneficiary of emergency
aid. We want to become a true economic partner and an investment opportunity
for those who respect the true value of our natural resources and our
sovereignty over them.

Indeed, as the leaders of the G20 meet in London to consider measures to
deal with the economic challenges facing their countries, I encourage them
to view Zimbabwe and other partners in Africa as investment opportunities
with the potential to stimulate their own economic growth.

As Prime Minister, I ask you to work with me and the people of Zimbabwe and
to engage with the efforts of our new transitional Government. I ask you to
share our vision for our great country, to work with us to rebuild our
nation and to walk with us on this promising phase of our journey to a true
and lasting democracy for Zimbabwe.

Morgan Tsvangirai is Prime Minister of Zimbabwe