Sources said President Robert Mugabe’s party also resolved during a meeting of its central committee last month that a clause in the power-sharing pact shelving by-elections for a year had to be scrapped because it infringed on Zimbabweans’ right to elect leaders of their choice.
Already, a wrangle between ZANU PF and the MDC over distribution of key Cabinet posts is holding back the implementation of a unity government outlined under the September 15 power-sharing deal.
ZANU PF wants to retain control of the key ministries of defence, home affairs, finance and foreign affairs, a move the MDC-led by Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected saying it would reduce it to a junior partner in a unity government.
Our sources who are senior officials in ZANU PF said the party’s 74th ordinary session of the central committee on September 17 – just two days after signing of power-sharing pact – resolved that the 10 provincial governors appointed by Mugabe on August 29 should remain in office.
The central committee, the sources said, unanimously agreed that the issue of governors is not contained in the pact signed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and the leader of the smaller formation of the MDC, Arthur Mutambara.
“It was agreed that there was no legal basis to remove some of the appointed governors and appoint MDC members to fill the posts,” a central committee member said. “The issue of governors is not part to the agreement and the MDC cannot demand even a single post.”
ZANU PF’s highest decision making body outside congress also resolved that by-elections should be held whenever a parliamentary seat became vacant despite a clause in the power-sharing agreement that sought to block by-elections in a bid to maintain the present distribution of power in Parliament.
The central committee immediately tasked the party’s commissariat department to prepare for a by-election in Chegutu senatorial constituency vacated by ZANU PF member Edna Madzongwe after her election as President of the Senate.
Mugabe’s party is also preparing for by-elections in Matobo South and Guruve North House of Assembly constituencies. Matobo fell vacant after MDC member Lovemore Moyo was elected Speaker of the House of Assembly while Guruve North became vacant following the death of ZANU PF’s Cletus Mabharanga.
Top ZANU PF official and one of the party’s lead negotiators in the power-sharing talks Nicholas Goche confirmed the resolutions by the party’s central committee, adding that the ruling party would engage the two MDC formations to amend the agreement clause barring by-elections.
“We will engage the two MDC formations to amend the agreement and allow by-elections,” Goche said on Monday.
He added: “It was felt that the clause infringed on the people’s right to elect leaders of their choice. If left like that there is a danger of a constitutional challenge in the courts. ZANU PF has started campaigning for the vacant seats because we have no doubt that the MDCs will agree with us on the clause.”
Goche said no one from the MDC would be appointed governor because the power-sharing agreement does not provide for that.
“Governors appointed by President Mugabe will not be removed to accommodate MDC (candidates). Only issues covered in the agreement will be dealt with,”he said.
But MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa differed with Goche saying the issue of governors was still outstanding and would be dealt with in the talks.
“Governors form part of the government and as MDC we should be represented at that level. Our position is that we should have our own people as governors,” Chamisa said. “ZANU PF’s position is wrong and we will use the mediation process to seek what we deserve as reflected by the vote of the people.”
Chamisa said his party, which holds the most seats in the House of Assembly but not enough to control the key lower chamber, was yet to take a position regarding the issue of by-elections.
Spokesman for the Mutambara-led MDC, Edwin Mushoriwa was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
The creation of a power-sharing government is seen as the first step in ending Zimbabwe’s decade-long recession that is seen in the world’s highest inflation of 11 million percent, deepening poverty amid shortages of food and every basic survival commodity.
But failure by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara to appoint a Cabinet after several rounds of talks has raised doubts over whether the power-sharing deal could stand the strain given the three rivals’ deep-seated mistrust of each other. – ZimOnline