Emmerson Mnangagwa, the ZANU-PF secretary for legal affairs, recently said that a Government of National Unity (GNU) was “unavoidable” given the make-up of the country’s politics, while MDC’s secretary-general Tendai Biti told a Kenyan journalist that the run-off would not solve the crisis in the country adding that there was still room for negotiations to come up with a “unity government of national healing”.

ZANU-PF and the MDC — the two apparent protagonists in the Zimbabwe crisis — are converging on the need for a GNU, which requires facilitation from both local and regional actors. A GNU requires commitment from both sides of the political divide in coming up with workable mechanics for an effective modus operandi to bring this noble idea to fruition.

In my view, there is a strong moral and business argument for a GNU, which to all intents and purposes, is the only cost-effective route for both ZANU-PF and the MDC that can bring about the much-awaited political and economic sanity.

The last couple of weeks after the harmonised March 29 elections have been intriguing, dramatic and marked by an unfortunate spate of violence blamed on both parties, across the whole country.

The results of the presidential election that failed to produce a clear winner have brought an air of uncertainty. It confirmed the polarised nature of the country’s politics, constituted on one hand by ZANU-PF (a liberation party in power for more than 28 years) and on the other hand the MDC (a movement that brought together people of varying interests, mostly the disgruntled working class).
There has been serious jockeying for influence over the electorate during the past 10 years leading to the historic March 29 elections. In that period, elections for either, council, parliamentary, senate and the presidency have cumulatively been held more than five times.

In the process, the country has not only become an elections country but the frequency of the polls has become a major drain on the fiscus of an already ailing economy.
The targeted sanctions and the cosmetic approach to efforts meant to recover the economy have worsened the situation.

The half-hearted implementation of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme in the 1990s and the subsequent fire-fighting economic measures after the abandonment of the International Monetary Fund-inspired programme coupled with the targeted sanctions meant that there was nothing to halt the economic free-fall.

With the convergence of the two main parties on the need for a GNU as highlighted in my preamble, Zimbabwe has been presented with a golden chance to end the crisis.

As the GNU mutates, it would be prudent that the media refrains from perpetrating damaging slants and angles that have fueled a mercilessly polarised environment.

Editors, journalists (stringers and moonlighters alike) have a newfound role to promote this exciting developments in our political history.

It would be an oversight on my part to situate this heavy task in realms of the media alone. It has to transcend over hordes of other key stakeholders.

The polarisation in our society today has also roped in men of the cloth, with the clergy menacingly supporting that party while other spiritual leaders now behave as if they are political commissars for the other party.

With the tacit endorsement of the GNU by the main political parties, I would suppose these men of the cloth, journalists and many others interested parties weigh on to these efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis facing our country.

They should also throw their weight behind “the Zimbabwe we want” agenda. Without necessarily mentioning names, the time is nigh for pastors to drum up support for the GNU for the good of the nation. The seemingly rabid editorials in our publications should also create the hype behind this philosophy of a GNU.

While the role of setting up editorial policies at newspapers may rest with the publishers it is time these entrepreneurs rally behind that which allows them to make money in an exuberant economy. The convergence of minds on a GNU is one such great opportunity. A few years ago this development would have been unthinkable.

Our columnists also need to tone down on their rhetoric and begin to understand that they are Zimbabweans first and foremost. There is a season for everything and we have just entered a season that compels good men to speak peace. Elementary journalism calls for a clean conscience and responsible writing.

These GNU expectations have gripped the nation and politicians are certainly called upon to buttress this initiative. Granted, there may be the so-called hardliners on either side who may fail to read the reality on the ground. There is a groundswell for disastrous consequences if our crisis is not handled properly.

Our country has gone through the good, the bad and the worst. Sovereignty, liberation and independence were first, stretching our democracy and testing its intensity. The GNU can only be good for the future generations. One hopes that literature will be written of these times, for posterity.
It will be an excellent present for posterity if the process of unveiling a GNU benefits this country and propels its growth and development naturally sought by all the warring brothers, parties, clergy and Zimbabwean here and in the diaspora.

The GNU discussion and the results of whatever settlement, however means, must be premised on the fundamental issue of reconciliation. Incidentally, Zimbabwe scored a first worldwide when reconciliation was applied at Independence in 1980 regardless of the thousands of lives that were lost during the liberation struggle.

The late Ian Douglas Smith and his collaborators, notwithstanding the Lancaster House Agreement, had committed atrocities that will make a mockery of the current dispensation, but lived with us all in harmony.

The GNU must of necessity define the route towards reconciling the virtues of our battered nation. Recent history points to the Chinese revolution and its economic boom after many years of being seen as a nearly failed nation. The critical lesson from that experience is the way we should value our identity and pride as a nation.

Seemingly all developed nations nurture a set of values and virtues that bind them together as a people. The developments of the past decade should bind us together so move on with developing a better Zimbabwe.
I dread the task ahead given the general decadence in work ethics over the last few years from once a nation of hard workers to a nation of beggars, lazy and unscrupulous dealers all partly induced by the need for survival. Anyone in Zimbabwe today from a government minister, member of the opposition, worker and any professional has had to “deal” to survive.

While that situation must be reversed in order to begin the process of developing the nation, it will come with thick challenges. A lot of us have made money in very doomsy circumstances difficult to be maintained in a properly functioning economy. We must prepare to start accepting the pain that comes with the recovery we so yearn.

Business will have to learn to adjust and reward efforts fairly and not in an environment of safeguarding profit and the establishment of the much awaited social contract. Developed nations will be handy to remind us that there are certainly no short cuts to doing things right first time.

As SADC and the AU navigates our exit from this unenviable position we must remain resolute, united as a nation and make this country grow. Everyone should cheer our leaders on as they grapple with the challenges of negotiating the rough political terrain for the benefit of our livelihood. The stage has been set, let the play begin as we await the outcome with bated breath.

If this is a result of President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa’s “quite diplomacy” then his efforts seem to have quietly ushered in a new era in Zimbabwe’s politics. It is incumbent on Mbeki to maintain this momentum and see his initiative yield the most desired result.

Thumbs-up to his untiring efforts, under very difficult and conflicting conditions. The polarisation of the political parties was reaching alarming heights and President Mbeki’s task was never easy from the start.

It can only be from a social contract involving labour, business and Government that a workable economic blue print can be derived. The challenges of ownership of policies have put us where we are today and as the future government embarks on delivering its mandate it is crucial that policies are matched and jointly developed with all the stakeholders in order to achieve the desired results. The human resources base in Zimbabwe is impressive given the right leadership.

Charles Pemhenayi is ZANU PF Central committee member, Manicaland Provincial Spokesman and Mutare North Member of Parliament elect.