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(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T lying on governors' appointments: DPM

MDC-T lying on governors' appointments: DPM
By: Ralph Mutema
Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010 6:30 am

DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara says MDC-T is lying to the public that there is no agreement on the issue of provincial governors. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Prof Mutambara said the appointment of provincial governors from the two MDCs would be made concurrently and simultaneously with the lifting of illegal western sanctions.

"We ... said it should be done simultaneously and concurrently, but the MDC-T say there is no link. That is a lie, that’s a spin by the MDC-T," he told reporters in the capital, Harare.

"The MDC-T should prove that they are sincere. Whether (the sanctions) are removed or not it’s another issue but our messages are very important.

"Let’s shame (the West) by speaking against sanctions. There is no investor who can put his money when the Head of State for that country is under travel ban."

The DPM added that he had communicated this information to Sadc appointed facilitator in the Zimbabwe talks, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, and his recent report to Sadc Ordinary meeting was based on two letters he wrote to him.

He added that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai appended his signature on those two letters, and therefore should not hoodwink the public to think that there was never an agreement on the gubernatorial posts.

"What I wrote to President Zuma, I did so on behalf of the three principals after consultations, if you have checked, none of them have challenged the letter," he said.

"I would be very interested if the two deny that. I was tasked to write two letters, one on June 10 and another one on August 5 and Zuma’s report was based on my letter."

MDC-T spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, has dismissed DPM Mutambara's claims saying such an agreement was never reached by the principals.

He could, however not explain why the prime minister's signature was on the two letters to President Zuma.

DPM Mutambara added that the MDC-T, by not calling for the lifting of illegal sanctions, was violating the Global Political Agreement.

"Some ministers, even in their documents, would not talk of sanctions and if you don’t talk of sanctions you are violating the GPA," said the DPM.

"Some of the ministers and ambassadors — what they say in public was different from what they say in private."

Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, MDC

posted by MrK @ 6:23 PM