At a summit held in August this year in Maputo, SADC leaders compelled Mugabe to denounce Mutambara as a principal in the inclusive government on the basis that the Deputy Prime Minister no longer had a party. Mutambara was booted out as MDC leader at the party’s congress held last year.
In August this year, SADC facilitator to the Zimbabwean crisis, Jacob Zuma, refused to meet Mutambara during a visit to Zimbabwe, saying the former student leader did not have a party.
However, Mugabe has insisted on holding on to Mutambara and reportedly threatened to boycott the Second All Stakeholders Conference on the new constitution if Mutambara was not allowed to officiate. This led to Mutambara being roped in to speak at the constitutional conference and MDC President Welshman Ncube boycotting the first day in protest.
Political analyst John Makumbe said Mugabe was bent in on driving a wedge between Ncube and Tsvangirai in the GNU.
“Mugabe is holding on to Mutambara in order to prevent Ncube from working on the same side as Tsvangirai. Mugabe will support Mutambara in issues to do with the constitution so that he can get Mutambara’s support in the GNU,” said Makumbe.
He added, “Mugabe is not confident of getting Ncube’s support. He is trying to prevent Ncube and Tsvangirai ganging up against him.”
Makumbe, however, said that Mugabe would be forced to honor the SADC resolution on Mutambara and eventually ditch him.
Another political analyst, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, said Mugabe’s holding on to Mutambara was part of the Zanu (PF’s) leader’s plan to cause confusion among political opponents.
“It’s a clear case of divide and rule. Mugabe celebrates confusion among opposition parties and that is his tactic of dividing and ruling opposition parties. In this case, he is confusing party issues and national issues. The opposition should be smart enough to see these dirty tactics,” said Ruhanya.
However, political analyst Gabriel Chaibva said Ncube was making cheap political statements by saying Mugabe was trying to sideline him by holding on to Mutambara.
“Ncube must find better things to say. I am not so sure if Ncube is a party leader because my understanding of the GPA is that it was signed by Arthur Mutambara and not Ncube”.
“There is no provision in the constitution under which the President can dismiss Mutambara,” said Chaibva. President Robert Mugabe is holding on to Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in order to create discord between his coalition partners in the Government of National Unity, political analysts have said.
At a summit held in August this year in Maputo, SADC leaders compelled Mugabe to denounce Mutambara as a principal in the inclusive government on the basis that the Deputy Prime Minister no longer had a party. Mutambara was booted out as MDC leader at the party’s congress held last year.
In August this year, SADC facilitator to the Zimbabwean crisis, Jacob Zuma, refused to meet Mutambara during a visit to Zimbabwe, saying the former student leader did not have a party.
However, Mugabe has insisted on holding on to Mutambara and reportedly threatened to boycott the Second All Stakeholders Conference on the new constitution if Mutambara was not allowed to officiate. This led to Mutambara being roped in to speak at the constitutional conference and MDC President Welshman Ncube boycotting the first day in protest.
Political analyst John Makumbe said Mugabe was bent in on driving a wedge between Ncube and Tsvangirai in the GNU.
“Mugabe is holding on to Mutambara in order to prevent Ncube from working on the same side as Tsvangirai. Mugabe will support Mutambara in issues to do with the constitution so that he can get Mutambara’s support in the GNU,” said Makumbe.
He added, “Mugabe is not confident of getting Ncube’s support. He is trying to prevent Ncube and Tsvangirai ganging up against him.”
Makumbe, however, said that Mugabe would be forced to honor the SADC resolution on Mutambara and eventually ditch him.
Another political analyst, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, said Mugabe’s holding on to Mutambara was part of the Zanu (PF’s) leader’s plan to cause confusion among political opponents.
“It’s a clear case of divide and rule. Mugabe celebrates confusion among opposition parties and that is his tactic of dividing and ruling opposition parties. In this case, he is confusing party issues and national issues. The opposition should be smart enough to see these dirty tactics,” said Ruhanya.
However, political analyst Gabriel Chaibva said Ncube was making cheap political statements by saying Mugabe was trying to sideline him by holding on to Mutambara.
“Ncube must find better things to say. I am not so sure if Ncube is a party leader because my understanding of the GPA is that it was signed by Arthur Mutambara and not Ncube. There is no provision in the constitution under which the President can dismiss Mutambara,” said Chaibva.
Post published in: News