Zimbabwe headed for Kenyan style of government
By Wilson Watson
HARARE, Zimbabwe- Zimbabwe in the middle of a political and economic meltdown, is headed for a Kenya style Government of National Unity although parties on the negotiating table still have a number of cases to solve.
President Robert Mugabe of ZANU PF, Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC and Authur Mutambara of MDC this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding that has paved way for full time talks under the mediation of South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Analysts this week said the only way forward was a Kenyan style of government where opposition leader Raila Odinga took over as Prime Minister while Mwai Kibaki took over as the President.
“It seems we are heading towards such a type of government,” said Golden Moyo a leader of Bulawayo Agenda, a civic organization that advocates for human rights in Zimbabwe.
“However it remains to be seen how the two parties will share the power because we do not know who will have the final say,”
The present Zimbabwe constitution does not allow for a Prime Minister but Mugabe indicated this week that the parties have agreed to amend the constitution.
Although Mugabe did not say what amendments would be meant, it is believed that the amendments are set to ensure that there is a post of a Prime Minister and the President with the laid down roles of each.
Another analyst, Jethro Mpofu of the National University of Zimbabwe however said the Zimbabwean situation was tricky as both parties were still proclaiming to be on ‘top’.
“We have a scenario where Mugabe is saying I am the president but Tsvangirai is saying I won the last credible elections so even if I am made the Prime Minister I must be the top guy,” he said.
His sentiments were supported by what Tsvangirai told reporters a day after he signed the MOU when he indicated that although “Mugabe was the President of the ruling party, I am the president of the wining party”.
Tsvangirai added, “Our signatures alone do not guarantee that we will be able to make the most of this opportunity,”
Mpofu said the sentiments themselves show that it might take some time for the parties to come to an agreement over the issue.
“If Tsvangirai is made Prime Minister, what it means is that he will be the head of government and he will be answerable to government in Parliament. This way it almost reduces Mugabe to a ceremonial president but I do not see him agreeing to that,” added Mpofu.

The country once had the position of a Prime Minster at independence in 1980 but was abolished when the constitution was amended to create the post of executive president.

Concerns have been raised over the past years over the sweeping powers the constitution bestows upon the president.

Despite these bottlenecks, there is a general feeling however that the politicians would put aside their difference and come up with a workable solution to the country’s problems.

Zimbabwe is at the middle of one of the worst economic scenarios ever experienced in Africa. Inflation has hit new levels of 2.2 million while prices of most good continue to rise beyond the reach of many people.

However the country will be kept in the dark on the developments of the talks as the parties have agreed that nothing will be disclosed to the media until an agreement has been reached.