(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T to 'discipline' Makone

MDC-T to 'discipline' Makone
By: TH-TZG
Posted: Monday, July 5, 2010 12:19 am

MDC-T financier and co-Home Affairs minister, Theresa Makone
THE Movement for Democratic Change party's national executive members want new co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone investigated for allegedly seeking the release of the son of Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa from custody last week.

Ministers Makone and Mutasa last Wednesday allegedly went to Mbare, Matapi and Stodart police stations demanding the release of Martin Mutasa and other suspects. Minister Mutasa has denied the allegations. The two ministers are said to be related.

Members of MDC-T’s executive said they wanted Minister Makone to be reprimanded or step down for "brin-ging the name of the party into disrepute".

Insiders say the issue was discussed at a national executive meeting last Friday at the party’s headquarters.

"We discussed her (Makone’s) conduct on Friday as the national executive and we agreed that she should explain what transpired. We feel she has let our party and the people down."

The source added: "What she did is unheard of. Going to the police to demand the release of someone who is facing a charge at the courts is scandalous.

"She has proved she is not qualified for the position.

"When you are a minister and your relative is arrested you don’t intimidate the police and demand your people’s release; you engage lawyers because that is why they went to law school.

"We don’t understand what she was trying to achieve. What picture does that paint to family members of our party supporters who are in cells?" said a source.

Said another source: "We believe this is a slap in the face for Prime Minister (Morgan) Tsvangirai, barely two weeks after he moved her to that ministry she has instantly hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

"Her actions have tarnished our image as a party. It seems to us she values her relationship to (Minister) Mutasa more than to party supporters."

Other members said they were afraid that since Minister Makone wields enormous influence in the party, the issue would "die a natural death".

"The problem is that even if she is caught on the wrong side beyond reasonable doubt, Tsvangirai doesn’t have the power to wield (the axe) on her.

"She and her husband (Ian Makone) have been allowed to control the party and Tsvangirai feels if he reprimands her, it will be a direct attack on Ian.

"However, we believe it is the opportune time for the national executive to make a bold decision and prove that no one is above the party. She can control Tsvangirai, but not the executive," a source said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai faces a hurdle in trying to discipline Makone as she wields a lot of power in the MDC-T party. Makone's husband Ian, is a financier for the MDC-T party and is also secretary to the PM.

He, therefore, has a lot of influence in the decisions made by the PM.

When contacted for comment, deputy party spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo said she had no comment: "The standing committee has not yet come up with a position on that issue."

The police described the conduct of the two ministers as tantamount to defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

Martin Mutasa (47) was arrested on Monday last week along with businessman Themba Mliswa (38) and George Marere (36) on allegations of swindling a Harare man of shares worth over US$1 million.

Mliswa is Minister Mutasa’s nephew.

The three suspects, along with three other alleged accomplices, have since appeared in court.

Last week, Minister Mutasa described as ‘‘nonsense’’ police claims that he and Minister Makone had demanded the release of his son from police custody.

He said he only went there to check on his son who had been arrested.

"I did not interfere with anyone, I only wanted to know why he was held by the police. I was following my son as a father," he said.