BULAWAYO pressure groups have expressed scepticism over the practicability of setting up the National Transitional Authority (NTA), as well as the composition of the Platform of Concerned Citizens (PCC) to lead the transition process.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
A group of prominent Zimbabweans calling themselves “concerned citizens” have proposed the establishment of an 18-member PCC executive to take over the running of the country until free and fair elections have been held.
The PCC has warned that the country risks plunging into an irretrievable political and economic abyss unless the NTA is formed as a matter of urgency.
Speaking at a public meeting in Bulawayo last week, one of the PCC members, Themba Dlodlo was subjected to a barrage of questions from Matabeleland groups seeking clarity on the NTA.
“As a person from Matabeleland, I am worried about the composition of NTA. From what I have read in newspapers, it’s only you, (Dlodlo) and Ray Motsi who are representing the southern region. For people to buy this concept, fair and equal representation of all regions should be seriously considered,” Mbuso Fuzwayo, the leader of Ibhetshu LikaZulu, said.
He said while the ideals of the NTA seem to be good on paper, it poses serious constitutional challenges, which will be fiercely resisted by Zanu PF.
Fuzwayo’s fears were also shared by the executive director of Shalom Project Trust, Anglistone Sibanda.
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“To me, trust among opposition parties and other stakeholders is important in order for this authority to be established. Right now there seems to be mistrust among stakeholders. The other big challenge is the constitutionality of the whole process. Zanu PF will obviously resist this idea on the grounds that it still has a constitutional mandate to run until 2018,” he said.
But Dlodlo defended the authority, insisting that Zimbabwe was on the verge of total collapse unless a transitional mechanism is put in place.
“The NTA is the only panacea to our current economic problems. We should not wait for 2018 because I am certain by the time we reach there, this country would have exploded. Right now people are getting as little as $50 from the banks, and we are fast reaching a point where there will be no money in banks and this will be definitely a turning point,” he said.
Dlodlo also dismissed claims that people from Matabeleland were underrepresented in the PCC.
