Mugabe Doesn’t Call the Shots

At the same time, your supporters might say you've been too conciliatory toward Mugabe.
I've never been judged on how confrontational or conciliatory I am toward Mugabe. I am targeted because people want his head. It's not about me. I'm not going to be the one to stand up on the top of the hill to defend his past. But I'm saying that, since we have agreed to work together, we can commit ourselves to what we have said we are going to do.

Do MDC supporters still face violence?
There has been a drastic drop in the incidents of serious, politically motivated violence. At this stage, things are working much better than expected.

But Amnesty International says Zimbabwe continues to see serious human-rights abuses. Is the MDC turning its back on human rights for the moment?
We're not turning our back on anything. I'm not going to be part of a government that is at the forefront of abusing Zimbabweans. We have turned a chapter, and we should demonstrate that we are committed to the rule of law. That is my position.

Do you have any power over this issue, or would you pull out of the unity government?
I'm not going to pull out. Neither am I powerless. I have executive authority as part of this government to be responsible for the outcome of what this government decides. No one has been given any authority to go and abuse Zimbabweans.

But Mugabe is still controlling security forces, police, the media.
Hold on. He doesn't control them. There is no parallel government. I am responsible for formulation and implementation of policy and supervision of all ministers, right? Mugabe is head of state. That is the hierarchical authority in unity government.

But it looks as though the transition isn't taking place.
Transition is taking place. If it has not taken place, how are we able to register these positive steps that we have done, and which Zimbabweans can see as deliverables? Schools have opened. Hospitals are opening. Inflation has been cut. Goods and commodities are available to Zimbabweans in the shops. There is peace and stability.

© 2009