Makone's daughter 'found hanged'
08/12/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
HOME Affairs Minister Theresa Makone and her husband Ian, an adviser to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, were rushing home on Saturday after one of their daughters died in an apparent suicide. Nyarai Makone, 32, was found hanged at the couple’s home in Domboshava, according to sources.
Her parents received the news while travelling with Tsvangirai in Kenya, according to one report. The MDC-T’s youth secretary general Promise Mkhwananzi, also travelling with the Prime Minister, confirmed the news on his Facebook page.
He said: “Mr and Mrs Makone, pivotal actors in our struggle for democratic change just lost one of their only two daughters. My heartfelt condolences to Ian Makone and his family. We grieve with you!!!”
The Makones had two daughters, Taneta and Nyarai.
At the time of her death, Nyarai was self-employed as an international trader of hand crafted furniture.
Nyarai, who previously worked as a manager at the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe, graduated with a degree in Art, Design and Applied Arts from Edinburgh University, Scotland, in 2004.
Labels: IAN MAKONE, MDC, THERESA MAKONE
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Cracks emerge in MDC-T as succession politics rage on
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:00
Herald Reporter
SUCCESSION politics is threatening to tear the MDC-T apart as its leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, is reportedly planning to handpick Mr Ian Makone as his running mate in polls ahead of senior party officials preferred by a majority in the party.
Mr Makone is PM Tsvangirai’s confidante, financer and secretary in his office.
Sources in the MDC-T say the majority of the people in the party want party deputy president and Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe and secretary general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti to be Mr Tsvangirai’s running mates.
They said Mr Tsvangirai preferred Mr Makone because he is believed to be a member of Mr Tsvangirai’s “kitchen cabinet”.
Mr Tsvangirai’s “kitchen cabinet” was a source of the party’s split in 2005 as some party senior officials led by the then secretary-general, Professor Welshman Ncube, felt that it was influencing the MDC-T leader to overturn decisions that would have been agreed in formal party meetings.
The party’s national executive has since endorsed the draft constitution, which has a provision that a presidential candidate in future elections should select a running mate who would eventually become Vice President if the principal candidate wins the polls. Other senior party officials that have been touted ahead of Mr Makone are national chairperson Mr Lovemore Moyo and national executive member, Mr Elias Mudzuri.
Party spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, said it was up to the principal presidential candidate to select a running mate of his choice. He, however, said Mr Tsvangirai had not selected his running mate because the draft constitution had not yet been adopted as the country’s charter.
“The decision to choose a running mate lies with the presidential candidate and other internal processes of a political party. It is like the prerogative by a president to appoint a minister,” said Mr Mwonzora who is also Copac co-chairperson.
“It is up to (MDC-T) president Tsvangirai to choose a person he wants when the time comes.”
Asked if it was fair for a presidential candidate to appoint a person with no support in the party as his running mate, Mr Mwonzora said: “That is why the running mate is made known to the country so that the popularity or lack of it affects results. The choice of a running mate affects how the principal candidate will fare in the election.”
The choice of running mate is set to further plunge the already heavily divided party further as most party officials wanted Ms Khupe and Mr Biti.
Sources said Mr Tsvangirai’s choice of Mr Makone were an indictment of his preference on who should eventually take over leadership of the party when he leaves.
The subject of running mates was not openly discussed during last week’s meeting but murmurs could be heard on possible candidates, according to sources.
Some could be heard whispering that it should be brought to the fore for discussion.
Mr Makone, according to sources, has no roots in the party but enjoys close relations with Mr Tsvangirai.
“Makone is not even in the top hierarchy like the Standing Committee, the party’s highest decision making body,” said one senior party official.
Those who are fighting in Mr Makone’s corner argued that Ms Khupe is a discredited running mate candidate following reports that more than 200 party supporters in her Makokoba constituency in Bulawayo defected to the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube.
They have since been agitating for the investigation of Ms Khupe, who is accused of having fallen out of favour with some party officials in her constituency. Mr Tsvangirai has already showed his preference for the Makone family after nominating Mrs Theresa Makone for a Cabinet post at the inception of the inclusive Government.
Mrs Makone, wife to Mr Makone, was subsequently appointed Public Works Minister by President Mugabe, and later on re-assigned as Co-Minister of Home Affairs, taking over from Mr Giles Mutsekwa.
Labels: IAN MAKONE, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, THOKOZANE KHUPE
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Tsvangirai’s letter of shame to Prophet TB Joshua
Saturday, 21 April 2012 23:05
Munyaradzi Huni
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has, through his close confidante Mr Ian Makone, officially invited controversial Nigerian prophet TB Joshua to come to Zimbabwe next month, as the desperate MDC-T leader tries to use the prophet to assist him to become the country’s next leader, it has been revealed.
It is understood that Mr Makone wrote a letter to TB Joshua on March 25 2012 inviting him to come and attend the National Day of Prayer slated for May 25 which would be a culmination of the ongoing “prayer” rallies that the PM has been holding around the country.
About two weeks ago, the prophet allegedly told his church during a Sunday service that was broadcast on his Emmanuel TV station that he was “headed for a troubled African country.”
However, impeccable immigration authorities told The Sunday Mail yesterday that it was highly unlikely that TB Joshua would be allowed into the country as he is known to use his alleged prophecy to meddle in politics.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, a top MDC-T official with a strong religious background said Mr Tsvangirai’s obsession with
prophets in a bid to enhance his chances of becoming the country’s next leader had reached alarming levels.
“On the 10th of March this year, this was the PM’s birthday and on the 12th of March we held a small birthday party for him. This idea of inviting TB Joshua was mooted during this party and some of us were shocked to discover that on March 25, Makone had written a letter to TB Joshua inviting him to Zimbabwe for the National
“This took some of us by surprise because we never thought the PM could go that far but then Makone runs the PM and all we could do was just to watch. Quite a number of us in the party have our own religious beliefs and I am aware that this TB Joshua invite hasn’t gone down well with many in the party,” said the MDC-T official.
It is understood that in the letter, Mrs Makone went all the way praising the prophet giving the impression that the PM now really believes that only TB Joshua can usher him into power and not the electorate.
Reports say Mr Tsvangirai was introduced to the world of prophecy by Mrs Theresa Makone together with Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo, the woman that the PM allegedly “married and later dumped.”
“Theresa and Locardia are the ones who first visited TB Joshua and when they came back they came with bottles of what they were calling holy waters to bless the PM’s marriage to Locardia.
“The PM then went to meet TB Joshua in September 2010 and reports that we have not been able to verify say the PM was told that he would never rule the country. Even some of the PM’s kids went to meet TB Joshua.
“In the MDC corridors, people are whispering that the PM is now living in captivity of these prophecies. Why does the PM want to bring TB Joshua here if he was told that he will never rule this country? Could he be courting TB Joshua for a re-prophecy? As far as I know prophecy does not work like that.
“We also wonder why he is resorting to a foreigner like TB Joshua if he needs divine intervention because close home there is Apostle Java, Reverend Chisvo, Reverend Muriritirwa and Reverend Chundu who could have assisted him.
“Some of these reverends, who have been praying for the PM all this time are not happy that their efforts are not being recognised,” said the official.
The official said after writing the invitation letter to TB Joshua, the PM intensified his prayer rallies in preparation for the coming of the prophet during the National Day of Prayer.
Interestingly, most of the prayer rallies are being held in areas that have been hit hard by this year’s drought giving credence to claims that when he comes, TB Joshua will preach more about drought and aid to affected communities.
Reports say the prophet will also speak at length about violence and in recent weeks, the MDC-T has drummed up claims of violence around the country.
It is understood that there is a ploy to infiltrate Zanu-PF strongholds, especially in the rural areas using the prayer rallies.
While Mr Tsvangirai “seems obsessed” with TB Joshua, in Nigeria the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has refused to allow him to join their fold.
One of the top pastors in Nigeria, Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Enoch Adeboye even went to the extent of saying he would never worship in TB Joshua’s church.
In November 2011, pastors from TB Joshua’s church were caught on camera claiming to have healed people living with HIV and Aids and recommending that they stop taking life-saving anti-retroviral medication.
However, this backfired and the victims were later told to continue taking the drugs.
Labels: CHRISTIANITY, IAN MAKONE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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PM accused of running parallel government
Saturday, 24 March 2012 21:07
Munyaradzi Huni
Assistant Editor
The Prime Minister’s Office has been rocked by fresh allegations that it is running a parallel government amid startling revelations that the office has employed “independent contractors” who are milking the Government of its resources and have turned the office into an “election command centre” for the MDC-T. The “independent contractors” use Government resources to carry out their clandestine activities although they are not registered by the Public Service Commission.
As a result, civil servants in the PM’s Office are frequently clashing with these independent contractors who report directly to the Prime Minister or to the secretary in the office, Mr Ian Makone, leading to the transfer and resignation of about eight principal directors in the office. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Mr Luke Tamborinyoka, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
One of the disgruntled principled directors, who was recently transferred to another portfolio for “unexplained and unclear” reasons, has since prepared a damaging dossier chronicling the rot in the PM’s Office.
In the dossier the director said “after 36 months” in office, there are allegations of a “breakdown of the working relationship just because some of us have resisted the move by Makone to turn the PM's Office into an election office.”
Said the director: “The secretary to the PM has decided to convert the entire office into an election team after the party’s congress in May 2011. The secretary is doing this because he is the elections director of the MDC-T and has also invested heavily in PM Tsvangirai’s political life over the past 10 years.”
The director noted that the situation was being compounded by the fact that at its formation in 2009, the PM’s Office was dominated by personnel that had no experience in human management. The director revealed that there were about 16 principal directors in the PM’s Office, adding that to show that the office has been turned into an election command centre, there is a principal director for constitutional reforms and election roadmap, Mr Jacob Mafume, and another principal director for residence construction and diaspora, Mr Lazarus Muriritirwa. Principal directors who have since been transferred or have resigned include Mr James Maridadi (director for communications and spokesperson),
Mr Andrew Chadwick (head of communications and speeches), Mr Martin Rupiya (security advisor), Mr Abisha Nyanguwo (director for social cluster), Mr Emmanuel Chimwanda (director of security), Ms Jacqueline Zwambila, Mr S. Hadebe (director in DPM Khupe’s office) and Mrs Thandie Hlabangana (director in DPM Khupe’s office responsible for community projects) The director said there are three types of employees in the PM’s Office.
“There is a group of employees in the Office of the Prime Minister who are employed by the Government via the Public Service Commission and receive their salaries from the Government . . .”
“There is a select group of employees who are under employment contracts of the PSC who receive their salaries from Government. In addition they receive monthly salaries from private donors to carry out research work which is mainly against the Government. The secretary to the PM is under this group of employees.
“There is also a select group of employees brought in directly by the secretary or the Minister of State in the PM’s Office. These employees don’t receive any salary from from Government and receive income from private donors after submitting research papers. They use Government resources including vehicles allocated to them by the secretary on a permanent basis.
“These employees do not attend meetings that are chaired by the Secretary to the Cabinet but hold weekly meetings with the PM,” said the director.
The director added that these independent contractors are sometimes used as the advance team when the PM goes on foreign trips “but this has contributed immensely to poor organisation and embarrassing moments for the PM.”
The director described the majority of workers in the PM’s Office as “political activists.”
Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, IAN MAKONE, MDC CORRUPTION, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, TREASON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000067
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: AN MDC SENATORS'S VIEW OF TSVANGIRAI AND THE MDC
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES A. RAY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) MDC Senator Obert Gutu shared his views January 30 on
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC-T, and the current
political situation. Gutu knows Tsvangirai, Minister of
Finance Tendai Biti, and other top MDC-T officials well, but
he is not an MDC-T insider. He is from Masvingo. His
constituency in the Senate covers approximately the same
Harare areas as does Biti's in the House of Assembly.
¶2. (C) Asked about Tsvangirai's qualities as a leader, Gutu
said the prime minister was humble and tolerant, not
vindictive like Robert Mugabe. These qualities in large part
accounted for his widespread popularity. On the negative
side, he was indecisive and inconsistent. Gutu pointed out
that a couple of weeks ago, Tsvangirai had said Zimbabwe
would not be ready for elections in the near-term because of
the residue of 2008 election violence and the inadequacy of
institutions. But at Davos last week, Tsvangirai said he
would press for elections in 2011. Gutu also stated that
Tsvangirai had a tendency to listen to the wrong people. He
pointed to Ian Makone, Tsvangirai's chief of staff, and
Makone's wife, Theresa, who is the Minister of Public Works.
He opined that neither was a good strategist, and that the
Office of the Prime Minister was weak due to Ian Makone's
lack of leadership.
¶3. (C) We asked Gutu why the MDC-T had not taken a strong
public stance on the Marange diamond fields where it appears
ZANU-PF insiders are illegally profiting. Gutu said the
situation was troubling, but he was not part of MDC-T
strategy on the issue. He said MDC-T parliamentarians were
furious when MDC-T Deputy Minister of Mines Murisi Zwizwai,
at Kimberley Process meetings in Namibia, denied violence at
Marange and had demanded his dismissal. Tsvangirai,
according to Gutu, promised to speak with Zwizwai and the
matter was dropped. Gutu noted that Zwizwai and Tsvangirai
are cousins and said this was another example of friendship
getting in the way of governing.
¶4. (C) MDC-T as a party, according to Gutu, is weak. Its
most capable leaders are in government, and the party has
been neglected. Many experienced MDC-T members declined to
run for Parliament in the March 2008 elections fearing that
their candidacies would be futile and perhaps dangerous.
Those who ended up running and winning in many cases were
inexperienced and unqualified.
¶5. (C) Gutu said he was aware of allegations of corruption
within the MDC-T. He had no knowledge of corrupt ministers,
but said local councils were a concern. Many councilors had
been elected for the first time in March 2008 and were trying
to help themselves to the spoils of office.
¶6. (C) With regard to the constitutional process, Gutu said
that local traditional chiefs had been co-opted by ZANU-PF
and were using food distribution and agricultural inputs to
secure support for ZANU-PF positions when parliamentary
outreach teams visit their areas. He said the World Food
Qoutreach teams visit their areas. He said the World Food
Program and other donor organizations had made food
distributions in December. But people were still hungry and
ZANU-PF had food and agricultural inputs such as fertilizer
to entice them to meetings to secure their support in the
constitutional process. Gutu speculated ZANU-PF had obtained
money for food and inputs from the sale of Marange diamonds.
¶7. (C) Gutu said there were divisions within the MDC-T on
whether to push for early elections. Some of the leadership
was frustrated with progress on the Global Political
Agreement and wanted an early election strategy. But many
MPs, elected for the first time, were reluctant to stand for
reelection before necessary. Gutu said he was concerned
about early elections since the ZANU-PF machinery of violence
was in place and could be turned on at any time.
--------------------
COMMENT and BIO NOTE
--------------------
¶8. (C) Gutu's comments about the MDC-T ring true; he perhaps
feels free to make them as he is not an MDC-T insider. Gutu
is a successful lawyer (University of Zimbabwe law school)
who first entered politics when he ran for Senate in March
¶2008. He 47 years old and is married with four daughters.
The eldest graduated from Florida International University
last year. One is a university student in Brisbane, one is
studying in Cape Town, and the youngest is in high school in
Harare. END COMMENT AND BIO NOTE.
RAY
Labels: IAN MAKONE, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, OBERT GUTU
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WikiLeaks: Chamisa, Gutu say Tsvangirai is weak and inept
Posted by By Our reporter at 3 September, at 22 : 58 PM
TWO of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s closest confidants labelled him an inept and indecisive leader during a meeting with US embassy officials, a secret cable released by the whistle-blowing website, WikiLeaks, revealed last week.
The cable shows that the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Nelson Chamisa, and the Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Senator Obert Gutu, questioned Tsvangirai’s leadership credentials during a meeting with US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray, in January 2010.
While many perceive Chamisa as a Tsvangirai loyalist, the cable shows that in private, the MDC-T’s organising secretary made the disparaging remarks against his boss whom he described as a weak leader.
Chamisa allegedly said that the Prime Minister “is weak and has failed to play a co-ordinating role for Government ministries”.
According to the cable, Senator Gutu concurred with Chamisa on Tsvangirai’s ineptitude during the same meeting with US embassy officials.
The two senior MDC-T officials also took a swipe at Tsvangirai’s right-hand man and chief of staff, Ian Makone, whom they said was a bad influence on the Prime Minister.
“Gutu also stated that Tsvangirai had a tendency to listen to the wrong people. He pointed to Ian Makone, Tsvangirai’s chief of staff, and Makone’s wife, Theresa, who is the Minister of Public Works.
“He opined that neither was a good strategist, and that the Office of the Prime Minister was weak due to Ian Makone’s lack of leadership,” reads the cable.
Gutu also claimed that Tsvangirai practised nepotism and cronyism when it came to appointing senior people to party and Government positions.
“Gutu noted that (Murisi) Zwizwai and Tsvangirai are cousins and this is another example of friendship getting in the way of governance,” reads the cable.
Zwizwai was then the Deputy Minister of Mines and is now the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Publicity.
Makone is now the co-Minister of Home Affairs while her husband has maintained his influential position.
The cable is one of the hundreds released by WikiLeaks last week and is likely to sow the seeds of discord within the ranks of the MDC-T.
Labels: IAN MAKONE, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NELSON CHAMISA, OBERT GUTU, WIKILEAKS
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Chamisa, Gutu tear Tsvangirai to pieces
Saturday, 03 September 2011 23:47
By Kuda Bwititi
TWO of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s closest confidants labelled him an inept and indecisive leader during a meeting with US embassy officials, a secret cable released by the whistle-blowing website, WikiLeaks, revealed last week.
The cable shows that the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Mr Nelson Chamisa, and the Deputy Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Senator Obert Gutu, questioned Mr Tsvangirai’s leadership credentials during a meeting with US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Charles Ray, in January 2010.
While many perceive Mr Chamisa as a Tsvangirai loyalist, the cable shows that in private, the MDC-T’s organising secretary made the disparaging remarks against his boss whom he described as a weak leader.
Chamisa allegedly said that the Prime Minister “is weak and has failed to play a co-ordinating role for Government ministries”.
According to the cable, Senator Gutu concurred with Mr Chamisa on Tsvangirai’s ineptitude during the same meeting with US embassy officials.
The two senior MDC-T officials also took a swipe at Mr Tsvangirai’s right-hand man and chief of staff, Mr Ian Makone, whom they said was a bad influence on the Prime Minister.
“Gutu also stated that Tsvangirai had a tendency to listen to the wrong people. He pointed to Ian Makone, Tsvangirai’s chief of staff, and Makone’s wife, Theresa, who is the Minister of Public Works.
“He opined that neither was a good strategist, and that the Office of the Prime Minister was weak due to Ian Makone’s lack of leadership,” reads the cable.
Mr Gutu also claimed that PM Tsvangirai practised nepotism and cronyism when it came to appointing senior people to party and Government positions.
“Gutu noted that (Murisi) Zwizwai and Tsvangirai are cousins and this is another example of friendship getting in the way of governance,” reads the cable.
Mr Zwizwai was then the Deputy Minister of Mines and is now the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Publicity.
Mrs Makone is now the co-Minister of Home Affairs while her husband has maintained his influential position.
The cable is one of the hundreds released by WikiLeaks last week and is likely to sow the seeds of discord within the ranks of the MDC-T.
Earlier in the year, the WikiLeaks cables revealed that the US government saw Mr Chamisa and Mr Tendai Biti as promising future leaders while describing Mr Tsvangirai as a leader who needed “massive hand-holding”. -The Sunday Mail
Labels: CHARLES RAY, IAN MAKONE, MDC CORRUPTION, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NELSON CHAMISA, NEPOTISM, OBERT GUTU, THERESA MAKONE, WIKILEAKS
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Tsvangirai heckled by Tekere mourners
Posted by By Our reporter at 9 June, at 01 : 25 AM Print
MOURNERS at the funeral of the late nationalist Edgar Tekere Wednesday jeered MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, forcing him to retreat in a huff. Tsvangirai – who was accompanied by among others his secretary Ian Makone, spokesman Luke Tambo-rinyoka and head of protocol James Maridadi – arrived at the late Tekere’s Bordervale home at around 4pm.
The mourners told the PM that he was not in charge of the country, but President Mugabe. Some of the mourners continued with their chores without acknowledging the MDC-T leader’s arrival while others could be seen offloading firewood from a lorry.
A handful of Tsvangirai’s supporters, who included Mutare councillors, welcomed him and escorted him into the house.
But more drama awaited him inside.
The mourners, mostly women, sang revolutionary songs reminding Tsvangirai that only President Mugabe was the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
The singing did not stop as Tsvangirai offered his condolences to Tekere’s widow, Pamela. The MDC-T leader sat for close to 10 minutes during which time the singing even became louder and drowned his voice.
MDC-T members appealed to the Tekere family spokesman, Steven Kada, to restrain the mourners, but they would have none of it, forcing the PM to beat a hasty retreat with his delegation.
His supporters also left.
Tamborinyoka said what was important was that his boss paid his condolences.
“These mourners are trying to hijack the body of a person who did not belong to their party.
“This is indecent and unAfrican. What is important is that the Prime Minister has managed to offer his condolences,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara, who arrived shortly after Tsvangirai, mingled with the mourners who included Zanu-PF Central Committee members and war veterans.
In an interview, he said: “What happened here is not of much importance because we are here to mourn our hero, Cde Tekere.
“We are all products of Cde Tekere’s sacrifices and people are free to express themselves.”
The Herald/TZG
Labels: FUNERALS, IAN MAKONE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
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Tsvangirai clashes with permanent secretaries
By: TH-TZG
Posted: Monday, April 26, 2010 12:37 am
THE Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office,
Mr Ian Makone, has been accused of trying to
clandestinely re-assign Cabinet powers to the Council of Ministers chaired by his boss Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, in
a move that would have usurped the powers of President Mugabe.
Mr Makone is said to have tried to summon all permanent secretaries to the Council of Ministers and in the process get them to report to the Prime Minister and not their line ministers as per the constitution.
However, these attempts were blocked by Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who wrote to the Minister of State in the PM’s Office, Gorden Moyo, explaining the constitutional position and the manner in which Government operates.
On March 26 Mr Makone wrote to all permanent secretaries saying: "All heads of ministries are invited to a Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday 1, April, 2010 in the Council of Ministers boardroom."
Among the issues to be discussed at the meeting were the so-called Government Work Programme for 2010 and workflow -- a document it claimed to be a Cabinet-approved Government Work Programme, when it was the PM's office that drafted it and distributed it without Cabinet approval.
The document was a wish list from the PM’s Office.
In his letter to permanent secretaries, Mr Makone claimed the Council of Ministers’ mandate included "considering and endorsing policy and legislative proposals before they are submitted to Cabinet for approval" -- a claim that is untrue.
An outcry from the heads of ministries prompted Minister Chinamasa to write to Minister Moyo on April 1.
He said: "I draw your attention to the attached circular from Mr Ian Makone . . . and wish to protest against misleading statements made in that circular.
"You recall that we had an extensive discussion in the Council of Ministers meeting on the role of the Prime Minister and the role of the Council of Ministers and that of Cabinet.
"I reiterate below the conclusions of that meeting.
"Formulation of policies is the responsibility of line ministers. Ministers are required to brief the Prime Minister during the process of formulation.
"On completion of formulation of policy, the line ministry proceeds direct to Cabinet for approval.
"Council of Ministers has no mandate to consider and endorse policy and legislative proposals before they are submitted for Cabinet approval."
He asked Mr Makone to withdraw the circular, which he subsequently did.
President Mugabe, as per the Global Political Agreement, chairs Cabinet.
Permanent secretaries last Friday said even if Mr Makone had not withdrawn the circular, they would not have attended the meeting because it was "unconstitutionally premised".
"I report to my minister and not the Council of Ministers. This is an attempt to get us to report directly to the PM and it is something they have been trying to do for some time.
"They have tried to force ministers to ignore the President and report to the PM, but the law cannot be changed by whims such as this."
Another said: "It would be a violation of the GPA and we cannot subscribe to that. There are laws, rules and procedures governing all such State interactions. Maybe Makone does not know how Government operates.
"We are tempted to doubt if he is even aware of the provisions of the GPA that created the very post that he occupies today."
The senior Government official said it was not the first time functionaries in the PM’s Office had originated memoranda, circulars and letters seeking to order heads of ministries around.
He, however, would not elaborate on the matter.
Labels: IAN MAKONE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, PERMANENT SECRETARIES
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Fatal crash: Tsvangirai aide refused state protection
Our correspondent
Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:43:00 +0000
IAN MAKONE, the Secretary in the Prime Minister's office wrote a letter turning down an offer of security-trained State drivers in preference for drivers from the MDC-T party, according to Government sources. State drivers would have driven the Prime Minister and his wife on the fateful day of the crash, which claimed the life of Mrs Susan Tsvangirai.
Finance Minister and Secretary General of the MDC-T party, Tendai Biti said the accident that killed Mrs Tsvangirai would have been avoided had the state accorded the Prime Minister a state convoy.
Biti told reporters after the fatal accident that if Prime Minister Tsvangirai had a State motorcade that warned people of his approach and made them get off the road then the tragic accident in which Mrs Tsvangirai died would not have happened. He appealed to President Mugabe to give Prime Minister Tsvangirai "the protection he needed".
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara also blamed the Government for failing to provide adequate security to Prime Minister Tsvangirai.
A fuming Mutambara told journalists in Harare that the accident could have been avoided if Prime Minister Tsvangirai had been provided with a proper police escort.
"The reason why Morgan Tsvangirai was in a party Land Cruiser with his wife was because he could not get two high clearance vehicles from the state of Zimbabwe. That is a travesty of justice in this country,” said the Deputy Prime Minister after the fatal crash.
Details emerging, however, reveal that Makone had preferred MDC-T party protection over State protection.
It is alleged that he wrote to CMED (Private) Limited with a list of drivers he wanted to chauffer the Prime Minister around, complete with full names and license details.
"He ... proffered a list of eight drivers, their national identification numbers and their licence numbers," according to state reports.
Contacted by The Herald newspaper over the accusations that the State had failed to accord protection to the Prime Minister and his wife, Makone refused to answer and referred questions to Tsvangirai's spokesman, James Maridadi.
According to the daily, Maridadi said the MDC-T party was "not overly concerned about what instructions were given pertaining to drivers and security ahead of the fatal accident".
"I think we should focus on beefing up security and ensuring that it does not happen again," he was quoted as saying.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai says the accident was genuine. He is currently in South Africa where he is recovering from the accident and taking time off with his family to mourn the death of his wife.
Labels: CAR ACCIDENTS, IAN MAKONE, SUSAN TSVANGIRAI
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