Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Mugabe chairs Cabinet without Tsvangirai

Mugabe chairs Cabinet without Tsvangirai
Ralph Mutema
Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:02:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe led a Zimbabwe cabinet meeting Tuesday despite a boycott by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party over the incarceration of party treasurer and financier Roy Bennett who has since been released from prison on bail.

"The cabinet started at the usual time of nine o'clock (0700 GMT). The session is being chaired by President Mugabe," a government official told The Zimbabwe Guardian on Tuesday.

An agenda for the meeting had been circulated on Monday and indications were that the meeting will proceed regardless of PM Tsvangirai's disengagement which was not formally communicated to President Mugabe.

PM Tsvangirai used the media to announce the boycott. The office of the president says it will not make decisions based on media announcements.

Presidential spokesman and secretary in the Ministry of Information and Publicity, George Charambasaid President Mugabe will not recognise PM Tsvangirai's suspension of ties until he is formally informed, in person or in writing.

"Until the communication is done formally the president has no reason or any grounds to think or know otherwise," the Herald newspaper quoted Charamba as saying about PM Tsvangirai's decision.

"This can be done orally or in writing but in a formal manner. From that point of view nothing has happened," said Charamba.

MDC spokesman and cabinet minister Nelson Chamisa said that any decisions made at Tuesday's meeting would not be binding.

"The matter is now in the hands of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU) who are guarantors of this agreement," he said, confirming Tsvangirai's Mozambique trip.

Charamba said the absence of the MDC–T will be a non-event because cabinet decisions were not made by a quorum or vote.

He said resolutions made at the Tuesday meeting will be binding on all ministers.

“There has been no indication in writing or through the Chief Secretary that there will be no attendance en block from MDC's side,” Charamba said.

Tsvangirai is yet to formally communicate his party’s decision to “disengage” from the inclusive Government.

DPM Arthur Mutambara and cabinet members from his party attended the Tuesday meeting.

10 DAY TOUR OF THE SADC REGION

PM Tsvangirai yesterday left the country without Cabinet authority on a 10-day tour of the region.

According to regulations governing the Executive, Government officials do not leave the country without getting authority through the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet.

It is understood that the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Ian Makone tried to get permission for his boss when PM Tsvangirai was already on his way to the airport, and to seek state funding for the trip.

The prime minister will visit South Africa, then fly to neighbouring Mozambique on Tuesday to meet President Armando Guebuza, the chairman of Sadc's defence and security body, in Chimoio in the country's central region.

"They will meet today at 16:00 hours," said Estefanio Muholove, a Mozambican presidential spokesman.

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

posted by MrK @ 6:19 PM