Welshman Ncube may now need to work closely with Robert Mugabe to remove Arthur MutambaraThe IG is made up of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. It comes to an end in February 2011, but it has been predicted that it is likely to roll-on afterwards.
Following his election this weekend, Ncube said Mutambara will continue to represent the party as Deputy Prime Minister in the IG. However on Monday, Dr Lovemore Madhuku, chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly, said that Ncube made this announcement only because he has no choice, and his ultimate goal is to completely remove Mutambra from the IG.
Madhukus previous prediction on the future of Mutambara has turned out to be correct. When speculation was rife that the MDC-M would immediately recall Mutambara from the IG if Ncube became leader of the party, Madhuku argued that this was not possible even if the party wanted to as Mugabe alone had the power to discharge the DPM.
It is only Mugabe who can either force him to resign or dismiss him, if he is not happy with his performance. The GPA is not the Constitution and is a separate arrangement. So, Mutambara is likely to complete his term in the inclusive government, Madhuku said last month.
On Monday Madhuku said: Welshman Ncube is clearly aware that at a legal level there is no way he can force Mutambara out of the inclusive government. So this idea of saying he will remain, and then there might be a reshuffle, I think he wants to play his way by either persuading Mutambara himself to voluntarily resign or have or have an agreement with the President to get Mutambara out.
Madhuku said it would be highly likely that Ncube could persuade Mugabe to drop Mutbambara. For this favour, Ncube would in turn side with Mugabe against Tsvangirai in the IG, Madhuku explained.
He said already Ncube is already showing signs that he will side with Mugabe, such as this weekend when he backed ZANU PF calls for the removal of sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle. Efforts to reach Ncube were not successful.
Post published in: News