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Published by the government of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Turns Down Govt's Invitation

Mabasa Sasa and Takunda Maodza

3 January 2009

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Harare — MDC-T LEADER Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has turned down President Mugabe's invitation to return to Zimbabwe and be sworn in as Prime Minister in accordance with the September 15 broad-based agreement signed between Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC.

According to a letter Mr Tsvangirai wrote to President Mugabe on December 29, 2008 and published by the Post newspaper of Zambia on New Year's Day, the opposition leader claimed further negotiations were still required.

The letter was left at Zimbabwe's Embassy in Botswana by a "source who refused to identify himself".

Mr Tsvangirai's letter comes at a time when the US State Department has announced that it was opposed to the envisaged inclusive Government.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer announced on December 21 that the US was "withdrawing support for the inclusive Government."

Despite Tsvangirai's letter, The Herald is reliably informed that Zanu-PF and MDC are moving ahead with finalising the formation of the envisaged inclusive Government.

A senior Government official confirmed that President Mugabe and MDC leader Professor Arthur Mutambara met on Wednesday to map the way forward in the formation of the inclusive Government regardless of Mr Tsvangirai's letter.

In his letter, which was leaked to the Post by Botswana Government officials earlier this week and has since been seen by The Herald, Mr Tsvangirai said he was not prepared to finalise the agreement.

Mr Tsvangirai said he wanted another meeting between himself and President Mugabe in the presence of South African President and Sadc Chair Cde Kgalema Motlanthe.

"I acknowledge receipt of a copy of your letter dated 17 December 2008 and my passport, delivered to me on Christmas Day by the South African High Commissioner to Botswana, Mr Dikgang Moopeloa.

"You are aware that the MDC, through its council resolution, justifiably rejected the recommendation of Sadc, and that the position regarding fundamental issues of principle have not yet been resolved. It is, therefore, presumptuous to conclude that the MDC accepts the allocation of ministers as per the schedule that you unilaterally gazetted.

"When the Constitution Amendment No. 19 Bill has been passed into law, the roles of President and Prime Minister will then stand properly defined within the law. Otherwise there is no basis for appointments. In the absence of the above processes, I find your proposal to appoint me Prime Minister irregular.

"I have written in the same vein to President Motlanthe suggesting he convenes a confidential meeting in South Africa between you and me, under his chairmanship, so that we can iron out these matters to the satisfaction of all parties.

"I am sure you are anxious to proceed to the successful implementation of the Global Political Agreement, anxiety that I share, but the issues are so profound that we must act in a logical sequence.

"In the meantime, I hope that when Parliament convenes on the 20 January, 2009, all parties will support the text of the Bill in accordance with the agreement," part of the letter read.

This was the first time that the opposition openly admitted that Mr Tsvangirai had been formally invited to take the post of Prime Minister after previously giving the impression that President Mugabe was lying when he told delegates to Zanu-PF's recent annual conference in Bindura that letters of invitation had been sent to the two MDCs.

Interestingly, though the letter was delivered to Zimbabwe's Embassy in Gaborone, the letterhead read "State House, Harare".

Government sources said they found it strange and suggested that perhaps it had been authored at Botswana's State House using President Seretse Khama Ian Khama's official stationery but the opposition had botched up in covering up the fact.

Analysts have also pointed out that Mr Tsvangirai's appointment does not immediately require the enactment of the constitutional amendment.

According to the Constitution, President Mugabe can appoint a person outside Parliament to a ministerial position on condition that the individual finds a seat in the House of Assembly or Senate within 90 days of the appointment.

This, the analysts said, demonstrated that Mr Tsvangirai was looking for excuses to sabotage the inclusive Government in light of indications by the US and other Western countries that they would not support the envisaged inclusive Government

President Mugabe's spokesperson Cde George Charamba was quoted by the Post as saying: "To understand Tsvangirai's position on the invitation to join the inclusive Government, watch Jendayi Frazer's lips."

Frazer recently said the US would not back any Government that included President Mugabe.

This is despite the agreement between Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC -- and signed by Mr Tsvangirai -- recognising President Mugabe as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces as well as Chair of Cabinet and the National Security Council.

While this was happening, the leaders of the other two parties to the agreement held a meeting.

Cde Charamba yesterday confirmed that the Zimbabwean leader met Prof Mutambara on Wednesday but could not provide details.

MDC secretary general Professor Welshman Ncube also confirmed the meeting in an interview with The Herald.

"They met on December 31 in response to a letter written to our president (Prof Mutambara) by President Mugabe asking for nominations," he said. "They agreed that they needed to find a formula to make sure the three principals meet."

He would not say when the three party leaders would meet.

Mr Tsvangirai is still holed up in Botswana despite receiving his passport.

Before he was issued with a passport, Mr Tsvangirai cited the absence of a travelling document as his reason for not coming back home.

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