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A Roadmap to Democracy in Zimbabwe

At a glance

 Only if Zimbabwe is restored as a democratic state, can it recover and grow. The roadmap is simple. It consists of four broad steps: 

  1. An agreement to hold fresh elections; 
  2. The formation of an interim government; 
  3. The formation of a new constitution; and
  4. Democratic elections. 
 
These steps, no doubt appear obvious, but it is the way in which they are implemented and the particular processes followed in making each of them a reality that will determine whether or not Zimbabwe succeeds.

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If a properly functioning and legitimate democracy is to be established in Zimbabwe, then a new course needs to be plotted. That course needs to be objective and neutral and not determined by the vested interests of any of the parties in Zimbabwe.

We believe our roadmap meets these criteria: it is a neutral course of action which, if agreed to, allows for a clear path towards the establishment of a democracy.

We believe this to not only be in the interest of the Zimbabwean people, who have suffered for decades at the hand of a repressive undemocratic regime, which has held their interests to ransom and systematically eroded away their democratic rights, but in the interest of South Africa, the SADC region and Africa more broadly. Only if Zimbabwe is restored as a democratic state, can it recover and grow.

The roadmap is simple. It consists of four broad steps: 

  1. An agreement to hold fresh elections; 
  2. The formation of an interim government; 
  3. The formation of a new constitution; and
  4. Democratic elections. 

These steps, no doubt appear obvious, but it is the way in which they are implemented and the particular processes followed in making each of them a reality that will determine whether or not Zimbabwe succeeds. The devil, as they say, is in the details.

The accompanying document sets out many of these requirements in some detail. Two points are particularly important:

  • First, Robert Mugabe cannot be part of the process. The position he currently holds is illegitimate and, as a result, his interests and the interests of those close to him have compromised the current arrangement. One cannot build a democracy on a series of first principles that are fundamentally tainted. The roadmap proposes that an agreement be reached whereby Robert Mugabe willingly steps down from power. This exit package in turn, will only work if there is a united front behind it. Those inside and outside Zimbabwe must agree that this is the right course of action and unite behind this purpose. 
     
  • Second, and in much the same fashion, should the roadmap be accepted, it is essential that all parties back up their commitment to it with action. This action must centred around the sustained use of all mechanisms at the disposal of the regional and international community to achieve its purpose. Ultimately, if the roadmap is adopted, and it is subsequently sabotaged, as a final and last resort, we believe the regional and international community must be willing to resort to force, to achieve the desired outcome. 
It immediately becomes apparent the critical role that South Africa will play in this process. 
 
Not only does it need to use every mechanism at its disposal to get the roadmap adopted, but it then needs to be willing to use what leverage it has to make sure it is adhered to. It needs to lead on this matter. The time for accommodating the undemocratic behaviour of Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF is over, and the focus needs to shift from appeasement to outcomes.
 
It is important, too, to explain the role that the Global Political Agreement (GPA) will play in this process. The DA believes the GPA is the only mechanism able to negotiate (in conjunction with the regional and international community) an exit package for Robert Mugabe and the other steps contained in the roadmap. We believe this mechanism should shift its focus from attempts to agree to a constitution that is contested and warped by political interests, towards a series of steps that will result in a constitution that best represents the will of the Zimbabwean people.
 
One final point is worth making: The roadmap we present today is an ideal. It is similar to the ideas that underpin a constitution. It is not an analysis but a plan of action. In this sense, it is only as strong as the political will vested in it.
 
This is the second such roadmap proposed by the Democratic Alliance. In 2003, former leader of the DA Tony Leon proposed a similar such idea. That, however, was before the last round of elections and the creation of the GPA. The difference between then and now is twofold, on the one hand, in the GPA, we have a mechanism through which a roadmap can be worked towards and adopted; on the other hand, the situation in Zimbabwe has continued to deteriorate and the suffering of the people in Zimbabwe has intensified. 
 
Now, more than ever, we need a clear plan of action on Zimbabwe. We need the regional and international community to unite and we need the South African government to play a defining role in this regard. We believe this roadmap is the mechanism around which those with an interest in seeing a democratic Zimbabwe should unite and, perhaps more importantly, we believe it is the only credible and acceptable way to establish a functioning and legitimate democracy in a country that has had its democratic dignity systematically eroded away.
 
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