By Ntandoyenkosi Ncube
JOHANNESBURG, May 11 2009 (IPS)

The Zimbabwean Prime Minister will address Parliament on May 13, reflecting on both progress and frustration of three months at the head of the country’s power-sharing government. Tsvangirai spoke to IPS in Johannesburg on May 8; excerpts of the interview.

Tsvangirai: 'Zimbabweans are cautiously optimistic.' Credit: Scott Bob/VOA

IPS: What progress has the unity government made so far? Morgan Tsvangirai: Our assessment of the progress of the unity government is that it is a positive development. We are very satisfied with the performance of this government.

There have been some incremental gains that we have scored. We have opened up schools, we have opened up hospitals. We have reduced inflation to almost three percent. We have stocked shops with plenty of food and goods available in the shops.

So Zimbabweans see this as a positive step and they are cautiously optimistic.

IPS: What challenges are there now besides what you have achieved? MT: The challenges are many. Mostly economic but there are also political challenges. You know that we still have outstanding issues which we have been discussing, and on which we are making slow progress but [which] sometimes act as a damper to the confidence of the people because they see this as a reluctance of some of the co-signatories to implement the Global Political Agreement. And that affects the confidence of people.

But I think that on the economy, it is big challenge to get the liquidity necessary, support in the balance of payment, support in the lines of credit of our businesses to start working again.

IPS: Talking about the constitution, we still have some very bad laws like the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which prevents journalists from operating without first seeking accreditation from the Media and Information Commission (MIC). Are we likely to see some reforms very soon in that regard? MT: Absolutely. This weekend [May 8] there is an all-stakeholder’s conference on media reforms in the country and I am sure that one of the [expected] legislative reforms as far as freeing up the media is the AIPPA, to ensure that we create the media environment that will allow for media to operate without any restriction. It’s part of the Global Political Agreement.

Once the conference is concluded, a commission is going to be set up next week or a week after to look at how to open up radio stations and other voices in the media to be heard. And I think that is a very positive step.

IPS: Presently there are some differences of opinion between your government and some NGOs like the National Constitutional Assembly, in terms of how the constitutional process should go forward. What is your view? MT: There no disagreement about the need for a people-driven process. But you must understand this constitutional process is born out of the agreement between the political parties.

One of the issues that has been a subject of contestation is that the parliamentary select committee which will be in charge of running with the constitutional process is an inadequate instrument of ensuring broader participation.

But we have never argued about broader participation of the civic society and anyone. We don’t want to exclude anyone. So there is no basis that the process that we are embarking on constitutional reforms is anything other than a people driven process.

No one is going to impose a view about what constitution will come out Zimbabwe other than the people of Zimbabwe.

IPS: Prime Minster, you have called for farm seizures to stop with immediate effect and you have instructed the police to act against whoever is continuing the seizures. But it seems your directive is falling on deaf ears why? MT: Yes, I am sure that you must understand that we have always budgeted for some resistance and these are signs of forces that do not want to see this inclusive government progress. And therefore it’s something that will manage.

It’s a question of managing these forces, managing these elements – few in number. But they cannot stop the process of the inclusive government. It’s irreversible.

IPS: In your own view who do you think is behind the land seizures? MT: Well, they are not many; I mean we have asked the Minster of Land to do a national assessment. You will note that these incidents may happen here and there but its not a national thing.

So we have asked for a national assessment, once that national assessment has been done, we do a land audit. And once that land audit is in place, we do a land commission which will then be responsible for rationalising the land reform programme.

But we will make progress on the land reform.

IPS: We also hear the armed service chiefs are still reluctant to salute you. MT: To me, this not an issue. I can’t spend my time preoccupied about salutes when people have no food and hospitals are not working, schools are not working. I think there are much greater issues at stake now to be concerned about whether an individual likes me or not.

But institutionally, I must emphasise the fact that what I know is that as part of the executive, the armed forces are loyal to the constitution and are loyal to the civilian authority. That’s what I know.

IPS: Your party named Roy Bennett to the post of deputy minister for agriculture, but he was arrested on treason charges shortly before he should have been sworn in. This situation has dragged on and on. When will he be sworn in? MT: Well, he will be sworn in very shortly. There is an agreement that it’s not a personal issue. He faces charges, but as the argument goes, a man is not convicted until he is found guilty.

So we don’t want to convict Roy Bennett just because charges has been laid against him. He has not been found guilty and therefore must be appointed. And no one appoints Roy Bennett other than myself because I have the sole responsibility of appointing those that save in government, from our side.

So it cannot be a refusal of anyone to put a restriction or a veto over the appointment of Roy Bennett.

IPS: Everybody expected the issues around the appointment of provincial governors, ambassadors to be taken care of very quickly but you are still delaying. Are we likely to see the appointments soon? MT: This is a marriage, my dear. This is a marriage. In marriage there are ups and downs and it’s how you manage your conflicts, how you manage your disagreements.

I can assure you that very shortly we will be making an announcement, because we have been talking about how to complete these so-called outstanding issues and very shortly we will make an announcement on what progress we have made – or lack of it – on these outstanding issues. And you wait until that announcement is made.

IPS: Finally, how would you describe your relationship between you, President Robert Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara? MT: Well, our relationship is a workable one. We have very productive discussions. Where we have problems we sit down and try to iron them out.

We may not necessarily agree, but certainly there is room for engagement, for disagreeing, for discussing, for dialogue.

To me that is the most productive relationship in terms of ensuring that this coalition works and works for the people of Zimbabwe. You know the history of acrimony and polarisation: we are past that.

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By Ntandoyenkosi Ncube
JOHANNESBURG, Mar 6 2009 (IPS)

Heather Bennett, a former commercial farmer, candidate for Parliament and the wife of detained Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer, Roy Leslie Bennett, says the party has let her husband down.

Roy Bennett was poised to be sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, an important post in a ministry in charge of a racially and politically charged farming sector. Instead, he was arrested on Feb. 13, moments before boarding a private plane for a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.

As newly appointed cabinet ministers were sworn in at State House in Harare, Bennett was driven away, reportedly in a vehicle belonging to the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga. Though the High Court granted him bail on Feb. 24, he has remained in remand prison. Original charges of treason were dropped and he now faces charges of attempting to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage.

Heather Bennett, who sought political asylum in South Africa along with her husband and their two children in 2006, spoke to IPS in Johannesburg on Mar. 2. Excerpts of the interview follow.

IPS: What do you think is the reason behind Roy’s arrest? Heather Bennett: Roy’s arrest is completely political. Firstly, I think they see Roy as a threat. I think they (the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or Zanu-PF) are afraid when Roy takes office as Deputy Minister of Agriculture he will be able to prove to the world how this whole land grab was just a political move by Zanu-PF to stay in power. Most of the farms were given to army or military heads, to Zanu-PF MP’s and to judges loyal to Zanu-PF as patronage tools to keep them loyal to Robert Mugabe.

If an audit of farms is done, which the MDC policy states, which speaks of rationalisation of farm ownership through an independent committee constituted and legalised by an Act of Parliament, it is going to show how many farms that were productive a few years ago are now lying in ruins, because the people that were given the farms sold all the assets and then moved on to another farm.

It is alleged Patrick Chinamasa has gone through nine farms like this, selling all the assets then having access to government-subsidised fuel, fertiliser, seed and selling them. The whole land issue has had nothing to do with addressing historical injustices as Mugabe would have the world believe through his propaganda. It was a political tool of survival on the eve of an election he was sure he would lose.

Secondly, I think the Zanu-PF old guard cannot stand the fact that Roy is loved and respected openly by the people of Zimbabwe. He is one white person whose image they have dismally failed to tarnish in the eyes of the people of Zimbabwe, despite and in spite of their propaganda. Zanu-PF knows but they are refusing to accept that the tide of change has gripped Zimbabwe and is irreversible.

IPS: Do you think he will be released soon? HB: This is completely dependent on the inclusive government. They have to respect the rule of law. Bail has been granted and Roy should be released immediately. The judgment of the High Court must be respected and the inclusive government and the Prime Minister must insure that the judgment calling for the release of my husband is adhered to.

There must be evidence of some change in how the government of Zimbabwe treats people. All political prisoners must be released.

IPS: Do you feel that Roy was let down by the MDC party? HB: Yes, I feel he is being let down by all parties in Zimbabwe because I have heard very few statements from individuals condemning his detention and that of the other political detainees too.

I think everybody that has taken posts within this inclusive government should be ashamed of themselves that they have done this while Roy Bennett and others who were fighting to bring democracy to Zimbabwe are still locked up in prison under the most horrendous conditions. I wonder if they can sleep well at night.

I know that if any of them were in prison, Roy would be doing everything possible to get them out. He would spend sleepless nights to get them out. I know what he did when Morgan Tsvangirai and some of the leaders of civic society were brutalised on Mar 11, (2007). I feel they have let my husband down. I still appeal to them to re-look at their conscience.

IPS: Was Roy nervous about going back to Zimbabwe? HB: Yes, obviously like anybody else, he was nervous. He is brave but not stupid. Anybody that knows the evil of Zanu-PF knows that they can not be trusted. So, yes, he was nervous.

IPS: Who do you think is behind Roy’s arrest? HP: Robert Mugabe, Patrick Chinamasa, and Constantine Chiwenga.

IPS: What made him return to Zimbabwe, was he convinced by Tsvangirai or anyone else? HB: Roy returned in good faith after the signing of the Global Political Agreement, and after South Africa, SADC and the AU leadership guaranteed this agreement and the inclusive government. He returned as he is committed to Zimbabwe and was eager to start the rebuilding process.

He was assured by the South African government that nothing would happen to him.

IPS: What are your plans? Are you going back to Zimbabwe if Roy is released and starts pursuing his national duties? HB: Yes, we will all go back home, we are in South Africa as refugees and would want to go back to Zimbabwe as soon as possible.

I think I speak for millions of Zimbabweans here, who would all go home as soon as they thought it safe and could see that the rule of law and human rights were being respected and that we could all start rebuilding our lives again. But arresting Roy I am sure causes a lot of hesitation for us and am sure a number of other activists that have been all over the world as refugees.

But no doubt we want to go back home.

IPS: Are you happy that Roy was appointment Deputy Minister of Agriculture? HB: I think that portfolio will obviously be a difficult one but whatever position Roy is given he will do it with utmost honesty and make it work, so I would be comfortable with whatever position he was given and for that matter if he does not have a position, as long as he can do what he loves best, working with the people of Zimbabwe.

IPS: Are you optimistic about the unity government? HB: The inclusive government can only work if they respect the rule of law and human rights and at this stage they are clearly not doing that.

IPS: What’s your message to SADC and the AU leadership who are guarantors of the inclusive government that is currently detaining Roy? HB: I would ask them to stand by the agreement they guaranteed and not let Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF to continue to be bullish and insincere. Zanu-PF must take the agreement seriously. I am sure that if the leadership of SADC and the AU commit themselves; we can make this continent a wonderful place for everyone.

I would plead with SADC and the AU leadership to ensure the safe and immediate release of my husband, Jestina Mukoko and all political prisoners. I think they need to pressurize the Zimbabwe government to release Roy and the other political detainees as their continued incarceration is completely illegal and is obviously political.

The Zimbabwe government should be forced to respect the rule of law and human rights. I do not think that the Zimbabwe Government should be supported in any way until such times as they respect the rule of law. I understand that (activist) Jestina (Mukoko) is chained to her hospital bed. That is clearly inhuman and degrading. The inclusive government must really respect human rights and show that things have changed.

IPS: There are allegations that some of your properties, assets and cattle were taken by senior ZANU-PF officials, how far true is that? HB: That is 100 percent true. When the government took Charleswood we were not allowed to take anything with us. We had to leave with nothing I do not think a lot of people understand this.

Imagine walking out of your house now and never going back, never being allowed one single thing. Imagine leaving our vehicles, our furniture, our clothes, and things you have collected over a life time, things that were passed down from generation to generation. Also with taking the farm from us the way they did it meant Roy no longer had a job. We no longer have a roof over our heads. We have to start from scratch.

Apart from us, the Government also evicted all the workers from Charleswood, they too lost their homes, their Jobs, their friends, the school their children were going to, the farm clinic where they could get free medication, a lot of our workers were on long term medication that they now had no access to.

They lost everything too.

Terna Gyuse adds from Cape Town: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was involved in a car accident south of the capital, Harare, on the afternoon of Mar. 6.

Media reports say he was travelling to Buhera, his rural home, where he was expected to attend a rally over the weekend, when his vehicle collided with a lorry. His wife, Susan, who was also in the car was killed.

According to MDC sources, Tsvangirai himself was not seriously injured, but he is under observation in a private clinic in Harare.

(IPS/AF/HD/IP/SA/AB/ZW/NN/TG/09)

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