Such sidelining of Parliamentary rules and fast tracking of Bills defeats the object of Parliamentary reform which was done to prevent just that. But it was dictated by SADC and done after behind-the-scenes secret party negotiations, which ensured that MPs from all parties supported CA 19 which was fast-tracked and the National Security Council Bill which is also likely to be rushed through Parliament.

Both these Bills are of vital importance to all Zimbabweans, bringing home the fact that accountable and transparent Parliamentary democracy has yet to take root in Zimbabwe.

The umbrella trade union, Zimbabwe Confederation of Trade Unions, and the civic national Constitutional Assembly have already denounced the agreement and are likely to make it even more difficult for the united government to work without their support.

On 30th January 2008 the MDC National Council Resolved that the deadline for enacting the Bill was reset to 11th January, as there were still issues that had to be dealt with first.

The issue of political detainees is another which JOMIC was supposed to deliberate on and ensure the detainees are released before the inclusive government is formed as resolved by the MDC National Council.

We had initially been made to believe that this would be a condition for supporting the passage of Constitutional Amendment 19, by this piece of legislation has already been supported and unanimously passed - suggesting that the MDC compromised.

On Friday, a judge ordered the release of Pascal Gono, of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, but his actual release from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison had not been confirmed at the weekend.

The sham trial of MDC secretary general Tendai Biti was abandoned by Magistrate Olivia Mariga who said prosecutors appeared unprepared to proceed against Biti and that Biti had been improperly arrested.

Fourteen other abductees are still in detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to appear in court today, along with rights campaigner Jestina Mukoko and her co-worker Broderick Takawira.

The hope is that they will also be released, but police are still holding hold three other abductees in "protective custody" as State witnesses. The State continues to deny knowledge of the whereabouts of another eight abductees.

MDC has therefore compromised on the release of abductees; enactment of the National Security Bill as drawn up by MDC-T is still under discussion; there has not been an announcement on the sharing of provincial governorships, though indications are that this might happen, and nothing has been said about the most contentious issue, which is the equitable allocation of Ministerial portfolios - without which the MDC will not be able to make an impact on policy formulation.

Breaches of the Interparty (Global) Political Agreement are said to be being considered by the Jomic though its remains to be seen whether Jomic has the powers to order any real reforms, fire people from government for the government to act or tackle breaches involving political violence, displacement and discriminatory distribution of humanitarian aid.

Review of the appointments of the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the Attorney-General had also been demanded by the MDC-T, but they now appear to have accepted the SADC position that this will be left until after the formation of the Inclusive Government.

For restoring confidence in the economy and in the rule of law these are key appointments.

Will MDC-T’s remaining issues be resolved before Wednesday for the swearing-in of Tsvangirai as Prime Minister?

If they are not resolved, will Mr Tsvangirai refuse to be sworn in? Or will he become Prime Minister and nominate MDC-T Ministers, trusting that the issues will be satisfactorily sorted out later?

Has the MDC-T, by agreeing to rush the Constitution Amendment through Parliament to meet the SADC deadline, lost its leverage to ensure its other conditions are met?

If MDC conditions are not met after the inclusive government is formed, will Tsvangirai pull his party out of the inclusive government? Or will he stay in as "a junior partner"?

South Africa has called for the resumption of international aid for Zimbabwe and the lifting of western sanction, seemingly saying that all is now plain sailing and that the crisis of government which has been going on since the questionable 2002 elections has been resolved.

There are also several press reports that South Africa has started rounding up many hundreds of Zimbabweans in order to send them back to Zimbabwe, claiming that now the Inclusive Government has been agreed, there is no reason for them to remain in South Africa.

SADC reported a satisfactory conclusion of the Zimbabwe crisis, and the AU called for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe, but Zimbabwean Churches are more cautious

The European Union has cautiously welcomed the agreement on the Inclusive Government as a positive development, but adopted a wait-and-see attitude towards the lifting of sanctions, awaiting "clear confidence building measures by the new government"

The United States is still looking for credible and inclusive power sharing and urging the international community to remain engaged and scrutinising actions by Mugabe to ensure adherence to the letter and spirit of this agreement, including respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Both Houses are due to meet again on tomorrow (Tuesday 10th February (the day before the deadline for the swearing-in of Tsvangirai as Prime Minister) and Tsvangirai is going to be put under pressure to jsupport a House of Assembly motion calling for the lifting of "illegal sanctions". SOURCE: www.changezimbabwe.com

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