One Step Forward Two Steps Back..?

Everyday it has become part of my morning routine with coffee, NYTimes Headlines and Op-ed pieces to google headline news on Zimbabwe. It's as if I am addicted - and I need my daily dosage of Zim news. I like so many of Zimbabweans in the diaspora want this Unity Government to somehow just make this work, and let progress and change come to Zimbabwe. But am I fooling myself can this regime really care for their own people first and try to do whatever it takes to resolve the country's crisis? Today I read 2 interesting articles: 1. Somewhat good news- The Zimbabwe Lawyers Society was permitted to demonstrate peacefully without persecution in Harare..progress is coming right maybe things can get better? Story number 2. According to reports from the Telegraph UK about 700 inmates out of the 1,300 have died at Chikurubi Maximum prisons, making it one of the worst jails in the entire world...maybe there is just too much that needs fixing? Is there any part of this country that still functions - schools, hospitals, prisons? The road to recovery is so immense that it seems impossible to continue on it with a shaky government that is not fully invested. It also seems impossible if all of us who are not at home to not try our best to contribute to the efforts of this recovery. Maybe we are relying way too much on our government to implement the change when all we have done is follow headlines, and sigh when its bad and get excited when it's good. If you are a Zimbo in the diaspora - what have you contributed towards a better Zimbabwe?

MDC Press Release Update on the progress of the Unity Government

Resolutions of the 2nd National Council Meeting held on the 17th of May 2009, Flamboyant Hotel, Masvingo - MDC-T Press Release

ACKNOWLEDGING the inauguration of the Transitional Government on the 16th of February 2009.

NOTING the outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement including the issues of the Provincial Governors, Ambassadors, permanent secretaries, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor and the Attorney-General,

DISTURBED by the continuous incidences of toxic and non-compliance on issues including;
(a) the continued farm invasions,
(b) the failure to swear in Roy Bennett,
(c) the unilateralism including the shifting of ministerial mandates,
(d) the failure of the National Security Council to meet,
(e) the continuous detention and re-detention of political and civic society activists, lawyers and journalists,
(f) the continued politicisation of State institutions,
(g) the continued partial and unequal reporting by the State media and
(h) the selective application of the law and the persecution of MDC Members of Parliament and activists including the “convictions” of Hon Mathias Matewu Mlambo and Hon Lynnette Karenyi

FURTHER DISTURBED by the lack of delivery of the Transitional Government on key areas of National Healing, media reforms, the legislative reform agenda, the slow pace of Constitutional Reform and the lack of re-orientation of the security forces.
Now therefore, the National Council resolves that;
1. All outstanding issues in the GPA should forthwith be referred to SADC and the African Union as the guarantors to the GPA.
2. JOMIC should be more effective and monitor the full and proper implementation of the GPA.
3. The Transitional Government should urgently deal with issues of governance, national healing, democratisation and the rule of law.
4. The National Security Council must be convened in terms of the law.
5. The Herald and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation must reform and report equally, fairly and consistently in line with the GPA.
6. The MDC, as a party of excellence, remains steadfast in its quest, drive and vision for a new and democratic Zimbabwe.
For and behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. Adopted on 17th May 2009.