Tsvangirai should have seen it coming

And after being heckled for his oversight by Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom, Tsvangirai could not help, but confess to reporters about the rude awakening he received from diasporans most of whom are asylum seekers claiming political persecution. He reportedly told the press that back home he has never been booed over the merits of the inclusive government in a development that reveals there are many out there still very sceptical about the country’s four-month old government.
The sceptics mention the continued harassment and arrests of journalists, human rights activists, and dissenting voices as well as continued farm disturbances and insincerity to the return of the rule of law as some of the major reasons for their withdrawal.
The hostile reception came after the premier told Zimbabweans living in the UK to return home, now that there was peace and stability in the country, immediately courting the ire of the crowd, which took to the podium in protest.
Zimbabweans in the UK have been fighting endless court battles not to be repatriated arguing the situation in the country had not changed.
But a recent poll conducted by the Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) in Zimbabwe points to the contrary.
The survey, carried out in late April to early May, shows massive support for the inclusive government with 80 percent of respondents saying they support the Global Political Agreement (GPA) while 81 percent said they hope it would be able to solve the country’s myriad problems.
The majority of people in eight out of the country’s 10 political provinces, said the inclusive government should have a lifespan of more than five years.
Only Bulawayo and Masv-ingo provinces said they wanted the inclusive government to go on for another year.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure, who is also the MPOI chairperson said the desire by the majority of people for the inclusive government to run for five years reflects their apprehension with polls, a development arising from the brutality committed against opposing views during last year’s presidential run-off that saw Tsvangirai pulling out because of human rights abuses against his supporters.
“I think it’s based on the trauma of June last year. It’s psychological. People would want to forget about that dark and violent episode. They want wounds to heal, a chance to recuperate. That is my interpretation,” said Masunungure.
He, however, ad-ded that an extension of the lifespan of the inclusive government would throw ZANU-PF a lifeline as the party is likely to be defeated should there be an early election.
Masunungure said the success or failure of the inclusive government is likely to be attributed to the MDC formation led by Prime Minister Tsvangirai, hence it was imperative that the premier ensures it works.
“If elections are free and fair I have no doubt that the MDC-T will win. If they are delayed ZANU-PF will rejuvenate itself and recover,” Masunun-gure said.
In February, Pre-sident Robert Mugabe said elections would be held after two years, the same sentiment expressed by Tsvangirai, with Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara saying in April, the government has an option to go for more than five years.
Addressing the Masvingo business community, Muta-mbara said there is nothing in the GPA that says the interim government must last for only two years and go for elections after the adoption of a new constitution.
Mutambara added that following the drafting of a new constitution, the three parties represented in the inclusive government would sit down to decide whether to go for polls or extend its duration.
Economist John Robertson was also of the view that a five-year inclusive government would benefit ZANU-PF.
Asked if the holding of elections after the crafting of a new constitution would not be disruptive to the economy as in previous polls due to violence and bickering, the economist said a good law allowing checks and balances would deliver a free and fair ballot thereby eliminating the destabilisation effect of electioneering.
“I suspect that ZANU-PF would welcome the five year term as they have little to offer presently. If they have more time, they can rebuild their case to make the choice of their party stronger,” Robe-rtson on said. “I know ZANU-PF cannot win free and fair elections. ZANU-PF could change in five years and present a different set of options. A lot of things could change in that period in favour of ZANU-PF.”
Tony Reeler the director of a local research organisation Research and Advocacy Unit  said calls to have the inclusive government to last for more than five years by respondents in the survey were due to lack of information on the provisions of the GPA to help people make informed decisions.
He added that in the absence of that information, people are left to judge the new government in terms of what is happening on the streets, such as no queues at banks or availability of food in supermarkets as the benchmark, to measure the progress or success of the new government.
“There has been no awareness of what is contained in the GPA, insufficient information to make informed decisions. They measure it using what is happening on the streets, like no queuing in banks.”