Fresh GNU row erupts over provincial governors

Fresh GNU row erupts over provincial governors

http://www.theindependent.co.zw/

Friday, 03 September 2010 08:44

A FRESH row has erupted over the appointment of provincial governors,
with
the three principals clashing over letters written to Sadc facilitator,
South African President Jacob Zuma, on progress made in the
implementation
of the global political agreement (GPA).

In a report attached to a letter dated June 10 written by Deputy Prime
Minister Arthur Mutambara and signed by President Robert Mugabe and
Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to Zuma, the three principals agreed that
the
issue of provincial governors would be dealt with concurrently with
that of
sanctions.

But Tsvangirai and his party have denied linking the appointment of
governors to the lifting of sanctions, while Mutambara and Mugabe were
adamant that the principals had reached that decision.

"This matter (appointment of governors) must be addressed
simultaneously and
concurrently with that of sanctions," the June 10 letter read.
Under the issue of sanctions, the three leaders "agreed to work towards
the
removal of sanctions. They endorsed and adopted the plan of the
negotiating
team on how to remove sanctions."

In a statement attached to another letter written by Mutambara on
August 5,
prior to the Sadc summit in Namibia, the principals reiterated that the
issue of governors should be dealt with concurrently and simultaneously
with
the sanctions removal strategy.

"That on the appointment of provincial governors, while agreeing on the
appointment formula recommended to us by the GPA negotiators, we have
resolved that this matter be addressed simultaneously and concurrently
with
the sanctions removal strategy," read the report.

Also accompanying the letter was an implementation matrix for the 24
issues
they agreed on. These documents formed the basis for Zuma's report,
which
was adopted by the Sadc troika meeting and the summit in Windhoek.

However, Tsvangirai, according to sources, was now trying to wriggle
out of
the agreement.
The MDC-T has accused Mutambara of falsifying the letter, with its
spokesperson Nelson Chamisa saying it was not true that the premier had
agreed to resolve the issue of governors when sanctions are removed.

Tsvangirai said last week at a launch of a new party card that there
was no
link between sanctions and the appointment of governors.

"To then artificially link the allocation of governors to the issue of
restrictive measures is a blatant attempt to undermine the GPA, the
inclusive government and the will of the people," he said.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba yesterday threatened to
expose
Tsvangirai by making public a letter he allegedly signed together with
other
principals agreeing that the appointment of governors should be done
concurrently with the lifting of sanctions.

He told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that: "We are slowly being
pushed
to a stage where we will have to embarrass the prime minister. Such
lies
raise questions of the PM's integrity and the integrity of his party.
He is
denying what he endorsed."

"No one was press-ganged into appending their signatures," Charamba
said.
"You can't rule on the basis of lies. Why are they recanting now? All
they
are trying to do is push the matter to Mutambara and Zuma."

He added that Mutambara and Mugabe have always been frustrated by
Tsvangirai
going back on agreed positions.
"President Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara take a decision
with
the MDC-T leader and when he goes back and is confronted by hawks in
his
party, he recants - he needs to take control," Charamba said.

MDC-M secretary-general Welshman Ncube yesterday said Tsvangirai and
his
party had several opportunities to object to the paragraph in the
statement
by the principals and in Zuma's report, which was read out at the
troika
meeting, that suggested governors would be appointed simultaneously and
concurrently with the sanctions removal strategy.

"People that lie are pathological liars," Ncube said. "Tsvangirai
actually
added paragraphs to the statement by the principals. He suggested that
they
should not just record what was agreed upon, but also what was
deadlocked,"
Ncube said.

Giving a blow by blow account of events leading up to the letter on
August
5, Ncube said the principals met and agreed that Mutambara should write
the
letter.

Mutambara wrote the cover letter, statement on progress and the
implementation matrix, after which he personally met the principals to
show
them the drafts.

In the initial statement, the deputy prime minister had only included
positives, which were the 24 issues they had agreed on and the
implementation matrix

Tsvangirai, according to Ncube, then suggested that Mutambara should
add
three paragraphs related to the three outstanding issues -- the
appointment
of central bank governor Gideon Gono, hiring of Attorney-General
Johannes
Tomana, as well as the swearing-in of MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett as
Deputy
Agriculture minister.

Ncube claimed that Tsvangirai was responsible for inserting a paragraph
in
the statement outlining that "as the principals to the GPA, we remain
committed to working within all the provisions of the GPA and to abide
by
the country's laws, in particular those provisions reflected in
Constitution
Amendment No 19".

This was meant to force Mugabe to stop making unilateral appointments,
like
he did when he appointed judges and ambassadors.
"We are dealing with people who are not leaders and who can't stand by
what
they have proposed," said Ncube.

After the additions, the final draft was sent to Mugabe and Tsvangirai
before it was given to Zuma's envoy Mac Maharaj, who was in Zimbabwe at
that
time, to take to his boss.

Copies of the final version were then sent to the two principals.

Ncube said: "The statement was sent to Zuma and it was part of Zuma's
report. Tsvangirai didn't want any modification to that report at the
troika
meeting and it is hypocritical for him to start distancing himself now.
He
is the one who opposed any amendments to Zuma's report - he didn't want
any
alterations."

Charamba concurred saying: "At some point at the Troika meeting,
Mutambara
suggested certain amendments to the report; the person who refused any
amendments was Tsvangirai."

However, a top MDC-T official said there was no agreement on appointing
governors concurrently with the removal of sanctions.
The official said when Zuma's office received the documents, they
called
Tsvangirai seeking clarification on the paragraph relating to the
governors.
"He then wrote to President Zuma and Mugabe saying there was no link
between
sanctions and the appointment of governors," he said. "

In the same letter, President Tsvangirai reiterated his position that
the
issue of governors and the issue of restrictive measures were as
separate as
day and night."

However, Charamba said no such letter had been written to Mugabe.

The MDC-T top official accused Mutambara of failing to correctly
capture the
minutes of the principals' meeting.
"It's the way he captured the minutes and the PM didn't notice that
paragraph - he saw the covering letter which Mutambara wrote on behalf
of
the principals," he said.

The MDC-T official said Zanu PF misunderstood what the paragraph meant,
which was not to say that governors would only be implemented when
sanctions
are removed.

An MDC-M official said both MDC-T and Zanu PF were spinning and lying
about
what that paragraph meant.
He said: "Mugabe was refusing to appoint governors and MDC-T, through
its
behaviour, has been violating the GPA on sanctions. Zanu PF says MDC-T
is
not sincere and bona fide on the removal of sanctions. Zanu PF wants
proof
of sincerity and a bona fide status, then Zanu PF can appoint
governors."

Faith Zaba

.