State media reported on Friday that the real practical challenge that has already emerged is how losing candidates will be accommodated.
The negotiators will have to tackle how the Mutambara leadership will be accommodated in the all-inclusive government given that the President no longer has the privilege to appoint non-constituency Members of Parliament beyond five senators.
That is a real practical challenge the negotiators will have to grapple with. How do you come up with an all-inclusive government against an electoral result that excludes the defeated? said a source.
Currently Mugabe can only appoint five senators and this room is not enough to accommodate losing Zanu PF candidates and unelected MDC Mutambara officials.
No one can be a minister without being in parliament.
The entire Executive Council of the MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara lost their seats in the last election. All seats were lost to the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai including a bulk from its stronghold of Matebeland.
The Executive Council is comprised of Arthur Mutambara,President lost Zengeza West, Gibson Sibanda,Vice President lost Nkulumane,Welshman Ncube Secretary General lost in Makokoba, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga Deputy Secretary General lost Glen Norah,Miriam Mushayi Deputy Treasurer General lost Harare West,Jobert Mudzumwe,National Chairperson lost Masvingo Urban,Fletcher Dulini- Ncube Treasurer-General lost Lobengula-Magwegwe.
All its portfolio secretaries who contested also failed to make it to parliament except David Coltart,MDC-Khumalo(Legal) Moses Mzila Ndlovu,MDC-Bulilima(Foreign Affairs),Edward Mkhosi, MDC-Mangwe(Lands) and Njabuliso Mguni,MDC-Lupane(Education)
Already friction in the Mutambara camp has emerged among the losing leadership and the MPs who retained their seats. Most of the MPs who retained their seats were moderates and had always pushed for co-operation with mainstream MDC led by Tsvangirai.
Last month deputy spokesman Abednico Bhebhe who retained his Nkayi’s seat paid heavily for co-operating with the MDC and was relieved of his duties as spokesman and replaced by Renson Gasele, however Bhebhe was adamant that he is still the spokesman.
The talk about me being expelled as party deputy spokesperson is nonsense, he said. I heard about my dismissal on the radio, newspapers and television. Nothing was communicated to me and as far as I am concerned I am still the party’s deputy spokesperson until the national council sits and officially passes such a decision. he fumed.
A Political analyst questioned the legitimacy of the losing negotiators.
On whose behalf are they negotiating when they do not have the mandate from their constituencies? We are approaching a situation where they would negotiate for their personal benefit and not for the benefit of the country which could complicate matters.
Already it has emerged that ZANU PF and the Mutambara MDC faction are pushing for an amendment of No. 19 so as increase appointed senators from five to 11.-zimbabwemetro.com
Post published in: News