Responding to Zimbabwe’s ongoing election crisis, in an editorial in the state newspaper The Herald last Wednesday, Obediah Mukura Mazombwe said “the most viable and safest way forward is for SADC to mediate negotiations for a transitional government of national unity . . . led by the incumbent president.”

Of course, in an editorial the next day, The Herald then featured Mabasa Sasa (say that ten times fast) making the opposite argument. So who knows what they really think.

SADC, or at least some of it, might think that a unity government is the way forward for Zimbabwe.

But the whole idea of a government of national unity is an emotive one for Zimbabweans, as well it should be – particularly for those who recall the swallowing of PF ZAPU by ZANU PF in the 1980′s.

We sent this text message to our subscribers to seek their opinion:

Kubatana! Government of national unity: Solution or sell out? What do you think? Reply with your thoughts via SMS or email info [at] kubatana [dot] org [dot] zw

We’ve received a flood of replies, particularly via SMS, with voices against a government of national unity out numbering those in favour of it by about 10:1. Here are just a few of the comments we’ve received:

Face the facts. Use the facts with logic to benefit the public at large. Stop partisan interests. Zimbabwe is at cross roads right as I write.

War veterans exist. ZANU PF is the vehicle party through which Zimbabwe got independence and Mugabe is its leader. ZANU won votes in the current House of Assembly and Senatorial elections. Mugabe lost the presidential vote and that is being recounted now, never mind the objective.
MDC exists. It has membership of people from all walks of life including War veterans, war collaborators, CIO, soldiers, industrialists, Karanga, Zezuru, Manyika, Ndebele, Korekore, Tonga,etc. MDC won seats in the House of Assembly and Senatorial elections. MDC won the presidential election, never mind the margin which is being tempered around with as I write!

Both parties got assistance from the West at one point or another during their life cycle. Zimbabwe needs food, jobs, production, infrastructure, pride, sovereignty, democracy, etc.

Therefore we need resources from different sources. What matters is the nature of contract the resources come with. Zimbabwe needs minds that think, level-headed people who use logic, rationale to arrive at answers to the problems that face the nation right now. Zimbabwe needs to be a true democracy to be able to achieve the task ahead of it. A democracy entails accepting divergence of views and harnessing the richness of diversity to craft policies and laws that the nation. We need peace. Peace entails a leadership that compromises trivialities and focus on fundamentals. Peace can easily be achieved when different interest groups have been given space, and assured that their interests are addressed.

Therefore a government of national unity is a must! A one party government will surely face resistance from the other party and the country will be ungovernable. Zimbabwe does not need another dictatorship but a democracy by its total definition and characteristics.

Sorry you touched me on a raw nerve!

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They must not be duped into the idea of government of national unity. They are not birds of the same feathers.

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Definitely No No No. No to any government of national unity. It will be a betrayal to the peace loving people of Zimbabwe. Compromise and appeasement are the seeds for a mutation of more corruption oppression and injustice. We have come this far down the road to overthrow this evil regime we must go all the way, and see a collapse of this evil system of bondage and destruction, Not only for Zimbabwe but the whole of SADC.

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A government of national unity is a sell out, mugabe and his puppets have no space in the new Zimbabwe.

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We must send the message LOUD and CLEAR to zanu (and to the MDC Leadership) “NO Government of National Unity, NO Terms and Conditions……….. We WANT a RE-RUN – under any circumstances, under any conditions – we will HUMILIATE them!!” Bring it on!

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No to a government of national unity. Please they should not disobey our vote. We don’t want sell-outs.

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GNU defies whole purpose of an election. If they wanted unity gvt shld have said b4. This undermines democratic elections. Let the winner lead&we knw who won

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How can you make unity with a loser? Why would you go for a penalty shoot out when your team won 2-0. MDC has won the match and by now they must be in office doing the job. BIG NO to govt of national unity.

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A gvt of national unity with who? Let MDC takeover. ZANU PF has failed completely. The people have spoken. We do not want thugs murders and thieves to govern us.

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What ! Government of national unity with a loser Never ever Mugabe is a thief & his cronies should go to HAGUE& face the wrath of their sins.

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Gvt of national unity a non starter. What happened to zapu? We never voted for a unity gvt.

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Gvt of national ok. With MT as president. Without mugabe.

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Depends who is in it and who dominates. Mdc must dominate. Bob must be out as well as all former ministers. Simba can represent reform zanu

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They will absorb MDC and neutralise any opposition. There will be no change for ordinary folk.

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Sell out. But best option at this time!

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No. MDC won so it should form its own govt. People’s vote to stand as it is. Zanu has stolen 3 previous elections referendum & 2 elections. Stolen country’s riches. We didn’t fight liberation war for a couple of people.

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Thats the way to go. Pollarisation wil not stop

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A government of national unity will be utter betrayal on the people of Zimbabwe. The mere thought of it is betrayal. It would be better to remain an opposition

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Thats the one we need to enhance experience to new leadership.

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Unity with thieves who are not ready to reform is a betrayal of the ppl’s will. The ppl have spoken. Great betrayal!

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No to a union with murderers.

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What unity? When someone loses an election he should GO! Thats why we voted. Why unite with thieves?

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Sell out. ZANU PF had its go, looted è economy bringing Zim 2 a near standstill & è quagmire we’re in now. è whole useless bunch ö thugs n crooks shld move out n allow Zim’s restoration 2 prosperity.

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No ways! As long as bob is around recipe for disaster! No progress at all.

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Solution if MDC is the ruling party. Any plans 4 that?

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It is ok to have a government of National Unity, but only if Mugabe is not the head. We do not want the set-up like the one in Kenya whereby the man who lost in the elections is still the one heading the country. We know who we voted for,and Morgan is the one.

This entry was posted on April 28th, 2008 at 1:10 pm by Amanda Atwood and is filed under Elections 2008, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.