Wongai Zhangazha
11 March 2011
Harare — PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday threatened to pull out of the shaky inclusive government after the arrest of Minister of Energy and Power Development Elton Mangoma on corruption charges and the Supreme Court’s nullification of the MDC-T Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo’s election.
The arrest of Mangoma and removal of Moyo as Speaker of the House of Assembly left the fragile coalition government in turmoil. Tsvangirai was not consulted before Mangoma’s arrest. Before a cabinet minister is arrested, the president’s approval is sought. Tsvangirai expected to be consulted as he shared executive powers with President Robert Mugabe in the GNU.
Apart from the arrest of Mangoma and the removal of Moyo, Tsvangirai told journalists at MDC-T’s Harvest House headquarters he could walk out of government because of political violence, banning and disruptions of political and other public meetings by citizens, hate speech, theft, and corruption.
Earlier in the day during Independent Dialogue Series discussion, Tsvangirai had slammed Mugabe over his threats to grab foreign-owned companies, his anti-sanctions campaign and renewed political repression.
The explosive crisis in government feeds Mugabe’s agenda of trying to collapse the arrangement so as to stampede the country into early elections in which the outcome would be pre-determined.
“We have reached a point where we are saying no more to confusion. Let us agree that this is not working. Let us make arrangements that we go for a legitimate election with a clear roadmap that (South African) President (Jacob) Zuma has committed himself to draw up so that we can reach a conclusion on this confusion,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned, the roadmap that Zuma has committed himself to draw up is the only solution to this madness,” Tsvangirai said, evidently rattled by Mangoma’s arrest and the Moyo verdict.
The arrest of Mangoma came as the Supreme Court nullified Moyo’s election as Speaker of Parliament with immediate effect.
Tsvangirai took the gloves off and fiercely slammed some of the country’s top judges, describing them as “politicians masquerading as judges.” He accused them of making political rulings and not guided by the law but partisan politics.
“A judiciary which in the post-Dumbutshena and post-Gubbay era has largely discredited itself by becoming a willing appendage of Zanu PF. Dubious and pro-executive decisions have been made in this era, said the MDC president, adding that he would not accept the courts trying to subvert democracy.
He insisted that the election Lovemore Moyo was lawful and legitimate and this was confirmed by the election officer and Clerk of Parliament, Austin Zvoma, in his affidavit filed in court.?
“What is common cause is that Parliament is a separate body, with its own rules and regulations and the courts should not interfere with other arms of the state namely, the legislature. This decision is a clear reflection of the state of affairs on the bench.”
The premier said Mangoma’s arrest was Zanu PF’s attempt to obscure the massive corruption that was taking place at the Chiadzwa diamond fields where US$300million in proceeds from the sale of the precious stones have not yet been accounted for.
“For a long time, our side of government has demanded transparency, especially on the issue of diamonds. In the past few weeks, Zimbabweans have been shocked that there have been various concessions granted to companies other than Mbada and Canadile. These include Anjin, which has been mining for more than 18 months in partnership with the police and the army and has not remitted any cent to Treasury.”
He said he was surprised how the army was involved in mining activities and how new concessions were being granted without the scrutiny of cabinet committees. Tsvangirai said the army had no business in meddling in commercial deals, including mining.
“The public spat between the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Mines and Mining Development over the $313 million reflects the lack of transparency in respect of diamond revenues. That the Finance Minister has to ask for details of diamond sales when the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority should be at the centre of every sale reflects the opaqueness surrounding the sale of diamonds,” he said.
Tsvangirai attacked the selective application of the law by the police after they refused to investigate three official complaints of corruption allegations against Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Excerpt from:
Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Threatens Zimbabwe Govt Withdrawal