Robert Mugabe is reported to be making moves to reduce the powers of Morgan Tsvangirai, his partner in the inclusive government, in gross violation of the Global Political Agreement.
The South African Cape Times newspaper said Mugabe has instructed cabinet ministers to report to the two ZANU PF Vice Presidents in a memo signed by Misheck Sibanda the Secretary to the President and Cabinet.
This is in spite of the fact the GPA, signed by the political parties in government, states that the President and the Prime Minister are equal partners.
According to the Cape Times, Gorden Moyo, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office 'wrote to the cabinet secretary asking why the Prime Minister's powers were being reduced, and was referred to the principals'.
It is reported the other principals, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, were waiting to hold a meeting with Mugabe, who returned this week from an African Union summit, held in Ethiopia.
Relevant Links
We were not able to reach the MDC on this issue at the time of broadcast, but the latest news comes amidst warnings from the party that the coalition government faces collapse as a result of ZANU PF's intransigence at the expense of national development.
Currently the political parties are failing to break a political deadlock on the implementation of outstanding issues. Mugabe has already warned that his party will not make any concessions until targeted sanctions have been removed.
MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti on Tuesday accused ZANU PF of continuing to use the inclusive government to wage war against the MDC and the people at large.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Biti said: "In addition, they have committed themselves to conducting an overt onslaught against the person, principles and agenda of the President of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, to thwart his vision of delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe. Rather than blaming President Tsvangirai for imaginary wrongs, it is time that ZANU PF took responsibility for the dark decade of poverty and violence their policies unleashed on the innocent people of this nation."
Biti went on to say there has been an acceleration of 'destruction', 'recklessness' and 'insanity' on the part of the former ruling party in the last four weeks, following the ZANU PF congress.
The Secretary General said his party is ready for elections if ZANU PF continues to work against the agreements made by the inclusive government.
The reports have left many observers asking how the regional body and indeed the mediator South African President Jacob Zuma can expect anyone to take the GPA seriously in the face of such provocative moves by ZANU PF.
Comments 1 to 5 of 12 Post a comment
" .. the President and the Prime Minister are equal partners."
You don't need to be wise to know that such an arrangement can only be short-lived.
If you know it as thriving in Europe - of your rhodies and Tsvangirai's masters who peddled it - then let us know.
Looks more like a sordid, juvenile, and rhodie banter than " a gross violation."
This Morgan dude is a silly 'Zimbabwean," like most rhodies: a voice of the INVADERS wearing a "black mask" (Franz Fanon).
When a despotic president tries to reduce the powers of a popular figure head, then all you will get is destruction of the worst type. Robert Mugabe signed all those papers for the world to see and now yet again he's going back on his word. This is the worst type of state terrorism to behold. Behold the liar of Africa, Robert Mugabe.
Have your say! There are many bad things you can say about Mugabe, most of them false, However, Ian Smith, the rhodie thug, ain't got crap to say to Mugabe and his supporters.
En passant, the last time I checked, Zimbabwe was not on the list of terrorist states or state sponsors of terrorism, and that list, significantly, is prepared by the US State Department. Of course, the US is no friend of Zimbabwe under the leadership of Mugabe.
Would you please enlighten the readership of this instrument of INVADERDOM about the " terrorism" you attribute to Zimbabwe?
Richerson88, let me tell you here and now, everyone in a decent demorcratic society should be allowed to have their say. In the Mugabe Zimbabwe scenario, we look and wonder where free speech is. If there is truelly free speech then why would you and your would be thugs shut down the daily news and threaten the staff for printing the truth in the country in which many innocent people are subdued into submission through despotic put downs.
See All Comments