As the newly installed president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa moves to appoint a new cabinet, opposition and political analysts have ruled out chances of a possible coalition government saying Mugabe’s former lieutenant is likely to opt for strengthening his party ahead of the 2018 harmonized elections which are 10 months away.
By Charles Lotara
Takavafira Zhou, a Masvingo based political analyst and the president of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) believes Mnangagwa might fundamentally appoint a few members from opposition parties in order to give a false impression of inclusivity and lure foreign direct investments so as to ease discontent.
He added that Zanu PF will opt for ‘piecemeal reforms’ which would be tailor made to ease discontent and propagate the ruling party’s hegemony.
“Mnangagwa would be far more interested in internally guaranteeing Lacoste victory over G40, and externally reviving and strengthening ZANU-PF grip over Zimbabwe. At any rate while we have witnessed the demise of a malevolent dictator (Mugabe) who was greatly captured by a young wife and economic bandits in form of G40, his totalitarian system has remained intact and so are some of his architects like Mnangagwa,” he said.
Asked whether the government under Mnangagwa will change the indigenization policy as a way of attracting investors, Zhou said, “We don’t have a clear cut indigenization policy. The country certainly needs a clear cut economic policy that can guarantee confidence to investors and infuse economic recovery but not a muddled up policy which is meant for primitive accumulation of wealth by a small elite of economic bandits masquerading as leaders.”
“There is need for corporate governance, transparency, accountability and equity. We also need to check high profile corruption that has become routine rather than episodic. Above all, we should value and observe social corporate responsibility and local processing of our natural resources rather than plundering and siphoning of raw materials from Zimbabwe to developed countries,” he added.
Posting on his official Twitter account, Norton Member of Parliament, Temba Mliswa shared a similar perspective saying the new president had already narrowed the possibility of a transitional government.
“The mere fact that the President (Mnangagwa) spoke about elections next year, there will not be any transitional government in Zimbabwe. There is a difference between an inclusive government and a transitional government,” noted Mliswa.
However, local civil society groups under the banner of People’s Will Coalition have called for an inclusive arrangement which recognize the diversity of the population.
In a letter submitted to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office on Tuesday, Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata who is the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches who wrote on behalf of People’s Will Coalition said an inclusive government would go a long way towards fostering national unity, social cohesion while enhancing prospects for economic recovery.
“Your Excellency, we welcome your undertaking “to serve our country as the President of all citizens.” We strongly identify with your goal to “preside over a polity and run an administration that recognizes strength in our diversity as a people.”
“In our view, your commitment to inclusivity would best be epitomized by the formation of an inclusive government. Such a government will go a long way towards fostering national unity, social cohesion as well as enhance our national prospects for economic recovery.
“The nation has endured many years of divisive politics and unnecessary polarization. We believe that this must change and can change under your able leadership,” said Rev Mtata.
