Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai met in the capital on Monday and their discussions on the issue reportedly came to a stalemate. SW Radio Africa is reliably informed the talks broke down when Mugabe proposed that Chihuri’s term in office be extended.
Without Tsvangirai’s full backing for Chihuri’s reappointment, the principals resolved to bring in Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara, to seek his opinion on the matter. The three principals are set to meet on Wednesday and according to sources, might vote on the issue if they remain at loggerheads.
It is believed Tsvangirai and the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube want a neutral personality within the police force to take over from Chihuri. Both MDC formations accuse Chihuri of using the force to prop-up Mugabe and his ZANU PF party.
According to the GPA, such senior appointments are to be done by Mugabe with the full consultation of coalition government partners.
MDC-T’s deputy minister of Justice, Obert Gutu, on Tuesday told SW Radio Africa that for Mugabe to go ahead and make a key appointment without securing the consent or agreement of Tsvangirai would be an attack on the constitution of Zimbabwe.
“In other words, it would be unconstitutional, irregular and unlawful. This is a matter that the constitution of Zimbabwe states. We all know that the GPA has been captured as part and parcel of the constitution of Zimbabwe,” Gutu said.
He added: “To be specific, changes brought in with constitution amendment Act number 19, make it clear that on key appointments, the President is obliged to consult his partners in government.”
The deputy minister said pronouncements to the contrary by Mugabe’s henchmen were a complete misdirection of both facts and law.
“What I’m talking about here is an issue of what the constitution of Zimbabwe says and not what the President or Prime Minister wishes to be done,” the minister explained. SW Radio Africa
Post published in: Africa News