ANALYSTS have expressed mixed feelings over the effectiveness of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) in overseeing the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Report by Pamela Mhlanga Own Correspondent
The political analysts’ sentiments came amid renewed talk of elections with MDC president Welshman Ncube indicating that the polls were likely to take place without key electoral reforms — a major GPA deliverable.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer and political analyst Eldred Masunungure told NewsDay Jomic had failed “to play an oversight role in the GPA and over other institutions as a whole”.
“Jomic is much worse than a toothless bulldog,” he said. “Though it might have the shape and looks of a bulldog, it cannot bite, so it is useless.”
Masunungure said the body did not have the legal framework for it to perform its role against the three parties in the GPA: Zanu PF and the two MDCs.
National University of Science and Technology lecturer and political analyst Lawton Hikwa echoed Masunungure’s sentiments.
“Jomic may have performed a few duties here and there, but to say that it has been effective in carrying out its duties is a little doubtful,” he said.
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“I think that Jomic may need a little support in order to carry out its duties.”
Newly-elected National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations western region chairperson Effie Ncube said Jomic had not been effective because it was a “junior in the GPA substructure”.
But Jomic spokesperson Joram Nyathi said they had achieved a lot “to push towards the prevailence of peace and tolerance in the country whether elections do take place or not”. Nyathi added provincial liaison committees and officers had been put in place to achieve Jomic’s mandate.
