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(HERALD) Plot to smuggle Ncube as GPA principal exposed

Plot to smuggle Ncube as GPA principal exposed
Tuesday, 19 July 2011 02:00
Herald Reporters

MDC-T is pushing to modify the meetings of principals to the Global Political Agreement to "smu-ggle" in Professor Welshman Ncube who leads the other MDC formation as a principal, but the plan is doomed to fail, sources said yesterday.

The plan, the sources said, is being pushed by MDC-T leader and Prime Minister in the inclusive Government Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in a bid to win the support of the smaller MDC formation, which is embroiled in a fight on who between Prof Ncube and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara should sit in the principals' meetings.

Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Ncube are also under pressure from their western sponsors and handlers who want them to unite ahead of the elections.

The Herald is reliably informed that the US, UK and some members of the EU want a united MDC as they now believe the emergence of the Welshman Ncube-led MDC and other parties in Matabeleland has cost Mr Tsvangirai some ground in that region.

Yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai's spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka confirmed the premier was in South Africa, but he was in that country for a different reason.

"The PM has children studying in South Africa and he was in South Africa to see his children," claimed Tamborinyoka.

He would not comment further referring all questions to do with the whole entourage to MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora.

Mr Mwonzora referred The Herald back to Tamborinyoka.

However, information at hand shows that there is a renewed bid by the MDC's British and American handlers using various organisations like the Freedom House and International Republican Institute (US) and the Zimbabwe Democracy Trust (UK) to unite the factions.

The Freedom House was founded in 1941 by Americans and claims to "support democratic change, monitor freedom and advocate democracy and Human Rights".

MDC spokesman Mr Kurauone Chihwayi said they were prepared to form an "alliance with anyone who is serious".

"We made an effort as a party to engage the Tsvangirai group in 2008 and proposed a united front, but they turned us down.

At the moment, we welcome people who are serious with the coalition idea including Tsvangirai but we have no intention of begging them," he said.

Mr Tsvangirai and his senior officials flew to South Africa last Thursday to meet their sponsors as well as discuss the alliance with Prof Ncube.

However, Prof Ncube - who was scheduled to also fly to SA - failed to do so.
The trip coincided with the arrival of British premier David Cameron's advance team to SA.

In the wake of the dispute between DPM Mutambara and Prof Ncube, which is pending before the courts, President Mugabe and PM Tsvangirai agreed that DPM Mutambara would continue as a principal since he was the signatory to the GPA.

It was also felt that the goings-on at the smaller MDC formation should not be allowed to disrupt the inclusive Government while awaiting a decision of the courts on the matter, the sources said.

This made Prof Ncube to believe that it was Zanu-PF, which was blocking his ascendance to the DPM's post and recognition as a political principal since he assumed the leadership of his MDC formation after elbowing out Prof Mutambara.

Sources said an alliance was being forged between MDC-T and Prof Ncube's formation especially after last week's meeting of the principals where Mr Tsvangirai felt abandoned after he failed to foist his party's agenda on the principals.

The sources said Mr Tsvangirai tried to get the principals to act on the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe which his party claims was not complying with the Act, constituting it.

This was despite the recent briefing to the principals by Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu who explained that BAZ was complying.

"Tsvangirai brought the agenda of his party to the principals. They (MDC-T) want a foothold on internal broadcasting just as they have on external broadcasting (through foreign based pirate radio stations)," a source said.

But Prof Mutambara questioned the motive and that left Mr Tsvangirai feeling abandoned hence the reaching out to Prof Ncube and the attempt to "smuggle" him in as a principal.

"Tsvangirai is now pushing for a new arrangement for the meeting of principals. The MDC-T is proposing a meeting of political leaders which would involve himself, Welshman Ncube and the President to strip Mutambara of political status while smuggling in Ncube. Tsvangirai is trying to help the talks between the MDC-T and MDC-N," said the source.

Contacted for comment yesterday Presidential spokesman Mr George Charamba said:

"I am unaware of the scenario you are drawing up but I can only confirm that the Monday (principals') meeting took place and comprised the President, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara. Whether they met as political principals or leaders of government I can't quite say but what I happen to know is that the Monday meetings are both political and governmental, which means they can deal with political and government issues."

Presently President Mugabe, PM Tsvangirai and DPM Mutambara meet as both political and government leaders in their Monday meetings.

However, when there are issues that need the collective attention of Government they meet as six - the President, the two Vice Presidents, the Prime Minister and the two Deputy Prime Ministers.

But Mr Tsvangirai now wants the Monday meeting limited to him and President Mugabe and then have the meeting of political leaders involving him, the President and Prof Ncube.

Mr Charamba said President Mugabe was unlikely to commit himself to Mr Tsvangirai's proposal.

"The President cannot commit himself to such a forum (meeting of political leaders)ahead of a court determination on the issue of the MDC leadership which is before the courts. The President has no intention of undermining the court processes," he said.

Sources say the talks for the MDC-T and Prof Ncube's formation to forge an alliance moved into top gear last week on Thursday when MDC-T senior officials flew to SA to patch up their differences away "from the madding crowd in Zimbabwe".

The first batch of officials who left on South African Airways flight number 032 at about 1300 hours was made up of MDC-T national chairman Mr Lovemore Moyo, his deputy Mr Morgan Komichi, national organizing secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa and Mr Tsvangirai's spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka.

At about 1450hours another group followed on British Airways flight number 6268 made up of MDC-T deputy treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma, deputy secretary general Mr Tapiwa Mashakada.

Later in the evening at about 1845hours the last group flew out on South African Airways flight number 8103 made up of Mr Tsvangirai, MDC-T secretary general Mr Tendai Biti, secretary for international relations Mr Jameson Timba, MDC-T national executive member Mr Ian Makone and Mr Tsvangirai's personal aides Edgar Gobvu and Edward Gudhe.

Sources said the trip took place as British PM Cameron's advance delegation to SA was arriving to provide an opportunity for contacts between the MDC-T and the British establishment.

But Mr Tsvangirai tried to de-link the contact with the British, the sources said.
"The PM was very careful that he flies out (of South Africa) when the British PM was flying in," one of the sources said.

The sources added that the MDC-T undertook the SA trip to also discuss the alleged irregularities involving its senior officials serving in Government.

Sources say the formations then leaked to the SA Sunday Times the story that Mr Tsvangirai faces arrest over alleged financial irregularities involving the renovations of his Highlands official residence.

Sources said US$1,6 million, which the Ministry of Finance released, is involved in the alleged irregularities over the renovations of the PM's official residence and police are making headway into tracking the money.

The ministry released the money despite the fact that renovations to the house had been done to the satisfaction of the PM, the sources said.

Police have also launched an investigation into a case in which Finance Minister, Mr Biti, is suspected of unlawfully authorising an officer in his ministry to go on several foreign trips and awarding her per diem at "special" rates.

Minister Biti is arguing that the probe was aimed at destabilizing the inclusive government and invading his privacy.

Labels: GEORGE CHARAMBA, GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT, MDC, TENDAI BITI, WELSHMAN NCUBE

posted by MrK @ 5:28 PM