HARARE - The former President of the small, breakaway faction of the MDC, Arthur Mutambara Ncube says the party will meet today (Thursday) to take a decisive stand in light of Mutambaras defiance. “The National Council will speak, that is the supreme decision-making organ of the party,” Ncube said. In a dramatic volte face Mutambara, who at the January 8 MDC congress said he was demonstrating to Zimbabweans that it was possible to hand over the baton of power, told a news conference on Monday that he had not ceded his power to Ncube.
I have no intention whatsoever of leaving the position of Deputy Prime Minister. I will not abdicate my national responsibilities in order to satisfy narrow party political aspirations. In our constitution there is no facility for a political party to recall a sitting DPM. I am not a constituency-based MP elected on a party ticket, he said. Ncube said the issue would be resolved by the partys National Council. “All those things will be determined on Thursday. I dont own the party. We are elected by congress, he said.
Asked if the party would consider disciplinary measures against Mutambara, he said: “The National Council has all the powers in every aspect. Party sources say Mutambara faces expulsion. University of Zimbabwe law professor, Lovemore Madhuku, said: “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 – it is a separate arrangement. So Mutambara is likely to complete his term in the inclusive government.” The party is riddled with confusion after the party chairman and a group of other disgruntled members challenged the legality of the congress. Ncube says he will wait for the courts to decide whether or not the congress was legal.
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