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(NEWZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai won’t budge over Makone

Tsvangirai won’t budge over Makone
by Staff Reporter/TimesLive
11/07/2010 00:00:00

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is resisting pressure from his MDC-T party to fire co-Home Affairs Minister, Theresa Makone after she angered activists by attempting to have the arrested son of a senior Zanu Pf minister released from custody.

Zanu PF secretary for administration and presidential affairs minister Didymus Mutasa’s son Martin was arrested together with Zanu-PF official Themba Mliswa and George Marere over allegations of fraudulently acquiring a shareholding in a white-owned motor firm, using President Robert Mugabe's name and that of other Zanu-PF politicians.

They were later granted bail, but Makone's involvement in trying to locate the accused and attempt to secure the release of Martin Mutasa has led to controversy in the MDC-T, with hardliners calling for her head to roll.

Party activists are angry that Makone has not shown similar concern over several MDC-T members they claim are being held by the police in prisons around the country on trumped up charges.

There is also concern that she has not asked police to institute investigations into the political violence, during which 500 MDC-T supporters were said to have been killed.

Insiders say there is outrage among the rank and file over Tsvangirai's silence and inaction over what supporters view as a blunder, barely a month after Makone replaced Giles Mutsekwa as the party's co-Home Affairs Minister.

Mutsekwa was demoted from the post of co-Home Affairs Minister after failing to make reforms, especially regarding human rights abuses by police.

But party supporters were shocked when Makone, the wife of Ian Makone, Tsvangirai's confidante and benefactor, moved with "astonishing" speed to try to spring Martin from custody, much to the chagrin of MDC-T supporters.

MDC-T insiders say it would be difficult for Tsvangirai to axe his friend's wife from the strategic Home Affairs portfolio.

MDC-T supporters are adamant that Makone's actions to help the son of a senior Zanu-PF official, who is thought to be related to her, showed that her heart was in that party.

Still those close to Tsvangirai said no one would pressurise him to rein in or axe Makone, saying the new co-Home Affairs Minister had done nothing wrong.

"There is no pressure at all on him whatsoever," said James Maridadi, Tsvangirai's spokesman.

Makone has defended her actions, saying that she responded to an appeal for help: "When you have the responsibility of the nation, you cease to be an MDC Minister."

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, THERESA MAKONE

posted by MrK @ 4:28 AM