ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe could replace Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ministers in the coalition government who continue to boycott cabinet meetings, the country’s state-run media reported yesterday.
The Herald newspaper quoted information minister Webster Shamu as saying Mr Mugabe was considering appointing acting ministers to perform the day-to-day duties of MDC ministers who have refused to carry out their duties since last week.
Mr Shamu said the MDC boycott, which began on October 16th, was adversely affecting the government’s efforts to prepare for the farming season and turn around the crippled economy.
“His excellency [Mr Mugabe] may have to consider appointing ministers in an acting capacity to key ministries for the sake of a successful agricultural season and general economic turnaround.”
Mr Shamu said the positions likely to be filled included those of finance minister Tendai Biti, planning minister Elton Mangoma and energy minister Elias Mudzuri, all senior MDC figures.
The threat to replace the officials is likely to further anger the former opposition movement, which claims Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF has little respect for it, treating it like a junior member of government even though it has a parliamentary majority.
Zanu-PF’s warning came a day before a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediation team is due to arrive in Harare to try and break the latest deadlock in the eight-month-old powersharing deal.
The boycott was instigated to protest against what the MDC says is a refusal by Mr Mugabe’s party to adhere to its obligations under a powersharing deal. This was brokered by the SADC following last year’s disputed presidential election.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who toured the region last week to gain support for the regional summit that begins today, says Zanu-PF refuses to share executive power and has appointed senior state officials unilaterally.
Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai met earlier this week to discuss the outstanding issues, but MDC spokesman and cabinet minister Nelson Chamisa said the three-hour talks failed to find a resolution. “The principals met. Sadly and tragically, the stalemate continues . . . We are poles apart on fundamental issues,” he said.
Mr Chamisa said the MDC was pinning its hopes on the three-day SADC meeting to unblock the impasse. “If that fails . . . a free and fair election under the supervision of the international community, SADC and the African Union will be the only option, ” he said.
Arthur Mutambara, the leader of an MDC breakaway faction that is also part of the transitional government, has pleaded with Mr Tsvangirai’s group to drop its boycott, saying it is playing into the hands of Zanu-PF hardliners.
“There are hardliners in Zanu-PF who are taking the opportunity to offend all of us in government . . . What they want is the collapse of the government,” he said.