Violet Gonda
For the last 28 years Robert Mugabe has had total power in parliament, but his power base has for the first time in Zimbabwe's history come under threat after the main MDC party won the influential position of Speaker of Parliament on Monday.
For years this position has not been significant because of ZANU PF's total control but it has become a powerful position, now there is a viable "opposition" in parliament.
Last week the Southern African Development Community recommended the reconvening of parliament after the talks by the Zimbabwean political rivals reached a deadlock. This development ignited debate on its implications for the unresolved talks. While the mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki, had indicated that the talks would resume soon, he possibly wanted to use the parliamentary elections to put pressure on Morgan Tsvangirai to append his signature to the agreement. But the MDC's winning of the Speakership bolsters Tsvangirai's position and negotiating platform, and reaffirms his victory on 29 March.
The MDC national chairperson, Lovemore Moyo, won 110 seats, while the other candidate received 98. ZANU PF did not field a candidate preferring to support Paul Temba Nyathi from the Mutambara MDC, but the majority of the MPs from the smaller faction rebelled against their own party and voted for the main MDC Tsvangirai formation. The fielding of separate candidates by the MDC factions also shows that the coalition between the two formations has disintegrated.
It's reported the vote, which was conducted in secret, led to four ZANU PF MPs also breaking rank to support Lovemore Moyo.
The Speaker confirmed on SW Radio Africa that he received votes from ZANU PF and the other MDC. He said this goes to show that some MPs are willing to put aside their differences and work together in parliament for the good of the nation. Nomalanga Khumalo, the Umzingwane MP for the Mutambara MDC was nominated Deputy Speaker.
In his acceptance speech Moyo said parliament will "cease to be a rubber stamping house. It'll ensure that progressive laws are passed."
What are the implications now for the democratic struggle in Zimbabwe?
Commentators say the Speaker can block the convening of Parliament, which is scheduled to be opened by Mugabe on Tuesday, a ceremony the MDC has threatened to boycott.
Glen Mpani, the Regional Co-ordinator at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in Cape Town, said the agenda for what happens in Parliament is now in the hands of the Speaker and that, in theory, the new Speaker can block any directives from the Executive until the talks between the political rivals are complete, or the issue of Mugabe's legitimacy has been solved.
The commentator went on to say the victory of the MDC Tsvangirai today brings new impetus to the current negotiations between the two MDCs and ZANU PF. He added: "The result is an indictment of the leadership of Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube. Mbeki as the mediator needs to question this formation's significance in the negotiations in the face of outright rebellion from its members. They have displayed high moral fortitude in the face of immense pressure from their leadership and ZANU PF."
Meanwhile, ZANU PF could only find consolation in the smaller senate prize. Edna Madzongwe from Zanu PF was on Monday elected the President of the country's upper house of parliament, the Senate. Parliamentary clerk Austin Zvoma announced that Madzongwe received 58 votes while the other candidate Gibson Sibanda received 28. Sibanda was supported by both MDC formations.
However critics say the MDC Speakership and the ZANU PF control of the Senate will pose a problem, as bills tabled in parliament will still have to go through the ZANU PF dominated Senate, as Mugabe has the powers to directly appoint non constituency Senators.
On Sunday, Mugabe appointed governors to eight of the country's 10 provinces, as well as three non-constituency senators ahead of the parliamentary swearing-in ceremony. This was a clear sign that Mugabe is desperate to form a government without the MDC, in clear violation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all parties.
The Herald reported that Vice President Joseph Msika, former Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa, and former Speaker of Parliament John Landa Nkomo, were appointed as non-constituency senators.
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
