The Financial Gazette

Levi Mukarati, Senior Political Reporter

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is seething with anger over President Robert Mugabe's alleged unilateral appointment of the deputy chief of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Aaron Nhepera, without consulting him.

The appointment of Nhepera has also been condemned by the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Welshman Ncube.
President Mugabe last week announced the appointment of Nhepera as deputy director of the CIO. A former ZANLA cadre, Nhepera replaced Mernard Muzariri, who succumbed to cancer three months ago.
The appointment comes as the protagonists in the troubled inclusive government are locked in a bitter wrangle over security sector reforms. The MDC formations want the spy agency to fall under the purview of Parliament.
Nhepera's appointment has further widened cracks in the tripartite government with Prime Minister Tsvangirai and members from the MDC expressing unhappiness over President Mugabe's continued unilateralism in the government of national unity (GNU).
Prime Minister Tsvangirai is expected to take up the issue with his rival during their next principals meeting. The meeting failed to take place this week due to the unavailability of all the three principals in the GNU.
Tsvangirai's spokesperson, Luke Tambori-nyoka, confirmed his boss was not happy about President Mugabe's latest unilateralism.
"The Prime Minister was not consulted . . . He (Tsvangirai) is not happy as it has become a tradition (of ZANU-PF) of not respecting the spirit of the inclusive government. I would not want to speculate our next move but we are not happy," he said.
Kurauone Chihwayi, the deputy spokesperson for the MDC, said his party was worried that ZANU-PF continued to be insincere.
"We are concerned about this as a party in government. We are not going to keep quiet because we have legislators and ministers in government. This should come to a stop," said Chihwayi.
Disharmony has been the major characteristic of the inclusive government.
Last year, Tsvangirai's MDC-T threatened to pull out of the GNU after being infuriated by ZANU-PF's appointment of provincial governors and the deployment of ambassadors to various countries without its input.
The three parties' negotiators had agreed on a formula that would have seen the MDC-T getting five governorship posts, while the other four were to go to  ZANU-PF and one to MDC.
But President Mugabe reneged on the agreement and appointed members from ZANU-PF forcing the MDC-T to go to the courts in a case which is still pending.
According to the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by the three parties President Mugabe is compelled to consult other partners in the inclusive government when making key senior appointments.
Rugare Gumbo, the ZANU-PF spokesperson, however, said it was folly for the MDC formations to dare challenge what the incumbent has decided.
"This is an appointment by the President and who is complaining about not being consulted? Consulted over what? Who said the President is obliged to consult? It is a general strategy of the MDC to cry over issues. Who are they to be consulted over security issues? It is a prerogative of the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the (Zimbabwe) Defence Forces and everyone should stand by it," said Gumbo.
ZANU-PF's latest position that President Mugabe was not under any obligation to consult signals its unwillingness to continue working with its partners, hence last weeks' declaration by the party's supreme decision-making body, the Politburo, that elections must be conducted this year.
The former ruling party wants elections this year to terminate the unity government while the MDC formations have been adamant that the environment is not yet conducive for the staging of fresh polls.
A road-map produced by the negotiators in the GPA has tentatively set the polls for August/September 2012 or early 2013.

Comments (17)

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written by Chakowega Mukonde, September 23, 2011

neville.mupfeka,DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE TSVANGIRAI HAS ANY POLITICA CAPITAL??

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written by Peacemaker, July 28, 2011

Cry-babies! If you can not beat them then defeat -ably join them

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written by Dopiro Mutserendende, July 27, 2011

To be honest vaTsvangirai, you should just quit this unity government. You have no authority, no one listens to you, you only speak through the press, hazvina zvazvino batsira machewe. You have won all the previous two elections and up to now hamusi kutonga…WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT IF YOU WIN THE NEXT ELECTIONS MUCHATONGA…Ngwarai vanhu ve MDC….Zviro zviri pachena, u will never be allowed kutonga nezvivanhu zve zanu…We have to pray that God keeps vaMugabe alive for the next donkey years..nokuti musi wavanofa..Tichavafunga…Zimbabwe will be chaotic…mucharwiwa…muchafiwa…

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written by Tonderai Banda , July 27, 2011

neville mupfeka i like your thinking, tsvangirayi is being naiive to expect better of mugabe and zanu pf.You cannot expect big vultures like zanu pf to turn into doves juss by a signing of a peace accord or a unity agreement .Can MDC be wiser by focusing on real issues not these ones or Nyikayarambas,cant you see that zanu pf is juss playing a game with you.

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written by neville.mupfeka, July 27, 2011

To carry on from my previous article, I just want to add that the zdf, zpr resulted from the merger of zanla,zipra and rhodesian forces. This means the culuture and trditions is reflective of this history, the pioneer clumn is still alive in this tradition and so is zanla. When a general says his allegiance is for his commnderinchief who happens to be mugabe, well he is merely refecting the liberation war traditions that was an intergral part of zanla and zipra ie unquestionable alligiance to mugabe, nkomo, fellow comrades in battle and the party, then the nation. The lack of reforms after independence is what led to the current staus quo, only a major drive for security sector reforms by the next governemt will bring about any changes, cause evidently the present gove is happy with the current rhodie, zanla, zipra military culuture. To a*sume that this culuture can be changed by sadc jmoic parly or the press is political naitiivty. What the pm, mdc or the next zanupf leader needs to do is win the elections with an overwheming majority, therby giving the civilain branch m*re power over the military the begin the slow process of reform and cultural changes. These changes need to start from the top down and needs to have national concesus. It may mean new uniform designs, new commnad structure, new brigades, disbanding brigades etc..till then we are stuck with the security sector we created in 1980 and its deeply rooted zanupf, zipra, rhodie culuture

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written by neville.mupfeka, July 27, 2011

As much as I hate to agree with zulu, the political realities and common sense force me to. This is politics and its a dirty game, whoever has the upper hand will always play to win! This is a reality that here in america, obama is slowly learning. his opponents, the white republicans are willing to sacrifice the economy, national interests and evrything to make obama look incompetent,powerless and stupid, by refusing to extend the national debt ceiling w week before the deadline, thereby risking the nation to default on its national debt! This of course they hope will trnslate to obama losin the upcoming elections! Politics is dirty, its so dirty that opponents are often killed or imprisoned in order for the perpetrating powers to remain in power. What is worrying in the case of the mdc, zanupf and sadc, is that that their political squabbles seem to triangulate around the security sector. This is not only shortsighted on the part of mdc, but it is like playing with matches around a keg of gunpowder. You see, the security sector is a power unto itself. The security sector has demonstred repeatedly that in the case of a weak civilian leadership they can seize power or influence power to its own end. When the mdc pities itself against the cio, the military and the police without a civilian backed powerbase they only dig a deep grave for themselves. The. Security sectors have no direct link with the pm office, that is the pm is not in the chain of command with any branch of the security sector only the president has that priviledge as commnder in chief. The pm was outwitted at the gpa tlks as he failed to put himslf as the second in the chain of command, this where his problems stems from. Jmoic, is not JOC!. What would have been proper, was for the pm to have used his oplitical capital that he enjoyed prior to and during the gpa all these last 3 yrs to forge an alliance, consecus or political understanding with the security sector and he would not be having his current confrontationla relationship with the security sector. The anti military stance taken by the mdc has been disheartening and hve not helped. Calling the military ,cio, and police zanupf state machinery instaed of recognising them as national a*sets has broadened the rift betwwen the two. The mdc has called for sanctions, budget cuts and reforma in the military without detailed attention to the impact this had on the military itself. For the average men and women in uniform these calls and actions have meant fewer or no equipment, poor training, less pay and general loss of confidnedce and pride on their jobs. How men have had to forgo their dreams of flying, being techs etc in the afz or zdf coz of lack of spare parts? How many will lose their jobs coz biti wants to cut the zdf budgets? What legislation has the mdc evr propsed to improve the lives of the ordinary soldier or policimen or cio agent who have no party affiliation, but just doing their national duties? How many times and to whom has tsvangirai sat down and had a one on one talks or dinner with military or cio, or police officers? How many times has or what has the mdc done to show their appreciation to the military or police foe the difficult roles they play due to zanupf and mdc clashes? the pm needs to demonstrate and reflect national leadership, and understand that without the sacrifices of most ordinary members of the security sectors he and many zimbos would not sleep well at night. Like I said before the military and police have their own traditions that cannot be changed over night, some of these traditions go back qas far as the pioneer column! He also needs to understand that the mdeia is free for all to express their opinion, from generals to pauper..if a general is out of hand its up to his chain of command to discipline him, not an outside body likeJMOIC!

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written by zulu, July 25, 2011

The other parties in gvt seem to be good at opposing and not acting. They condem and registar disatifaction over decisions made by Zanu. I you got into a deal and are the weaker side,these are the issues that you will always face daily.I said it before and will continue to say it now,MDC,you are the weakest link. You have no power and you are no brainers. You should be using your infuence to change things in your favour but clearly you are not. What zanu is simply doing is to flex influence which is not challenged in any way shape or form. Every other human being sympathise with you but sympathy does not equal power, you need m*re than that to deal with Zanu.

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written by tatenda bonga, July 24, 2011

karanda karikoga you are confused you say people in diaspora are negros and subjected by their piggery colonial masters.tell me how many sewer system upgrades have taken place in the town you live.how many times do you have electricity shut down for hours where you live.do we have our own currency or we use the masters money still? what has mugabe achieved except rhetoric and high flying miles to asia.how many days does mugabe actually stay in zimbabwe?do you remember esap? who implemented it and why? so diamonds in marange how come we are still broke.who does mugabe really stand for my brother? question mark nga.check yo record.

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written by Shah, July 24, 2011

Mugabe will never be sincere so dont waste your temper. This paper also seems to be proMugabe so let things be.

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written by Bruno, July 24, 2011

At the rate Tsvangirai has been reported to have been incensed over Mugabe's unilateralism this guy should surely by now be a victim of High Blood Pressure. If he has real teeth lets see his bite not this talk and cheap politiking. W e thought after Sandton this guy was sitting pretty but like we all surmised the dragon has lost its fire.

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written by Mawika, July 24, 2011

These are security matters buddy which you know absolutely nothing about. Please leave it to the tried and tested. Your handlers know better how we deal with these issues.

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written by Karanda Karikoga, July 24, 2011

Robert Mugabe is the Executive President of Zimbabwe that means he is defacto Ruler of Global Political Agreement (GPA) and does not need to consult Prime Minister Tsvangirai with Security Appointments. You MDC are sell outs. The kissers of your Piggery Masters who brought slavery and oppressed black people. You travel abroad and see the attitute of your Piggery colonial masters of yours towards you as a nigro and friends you will always be nigros and you will appreciate what mugabe is doing. Though I dont totally agree with his economic policies in the name indigenisation by taking all land from the white farmers and giving it to a few within his party yet this exercise was meant to benefit every zimbabwean regardless of political affiliation. It needed a well thought of and thorough plan to distribute at least 70% of the land to the blacks over a period of time leaving 30% of the land to good white farmers and i believe not all white people are bad and racist. During slavery, there were a handful of white people who helped the emanc**ation and abolition of slavery.

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written by trym*re modise, July 23, 2011

the prime minister does not consult mugabe for his security details.the gnu is a marriage of convenience.like being given your wife`s niece because your wife cannot give you a son like our old traditional mandates.now you cannot be chief security man in the constitution of rhodesia/zimbabwe because politics supercedes governmental procedure.mugabe is a master of deception like the devil his father.he is loyal to no one.not even his wife.should he be captured and arrested like i will do when he comes to malaysia and send him to the hague.he will sing like a canary.i will step up to the plate and smuggle his a*s to the hague under a citizens arrest.so come on robert tichakubata nemaoko zvisina violence.citizens arrest.

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written by Fatso Wemahwani, July 23, 2011

Uyu Motto anorwara uyu. Which Party was not controlled by the British? Zanu PF was until 1997 when they broke ranks with them and the Knight rank given to Mugabe was withdrawn! Which of the MDC officials got such a rank from the British? All the opposition parties are getting is m*ral and sometimes some financial support! But Mugabe worked as the Queen's representantive in Zimbabwe, full time! His constant trips to London were to give feedback to his masters...until he stepped on their toes in the DRC in 1997 and the controversial 'land reforms' which are no reforms at all because we still have to reform the reforms! Hamen...Cry the Beloved Country

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written by Randolph Matemai, July 23, 2011

I understand Prime Minister Tsvangirai's frustations as he is working with a fellow princ**al he does not always agree with on most major issues. The Prime Minister should therefore see to it that elections are held soonest in order to remove all uncertainities in government.

However regarding the appointment of Nhepera, the truth , although bitter, is that on the issue of security branch senior officers, the President will continue to appoint these. This is not to say that the Prime Minister should not complain about the appointments, but it should be in the Mondayly meetings involving the three princ**als. Complaining in the press and at poltical rallies could be viewed as polical grandstanding or playing to the gallery (KUSHAMISIRA KANA KUTI KUONERERWA0. The Prime Minister should revise his strategy. The President is an astitute political operator.

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written by w**.africvillemagazine.com, July 23, 2011

As a way forward, the principle of tolerance is very important. How do you agree on simple issues when you have a bloated bureaucracy like that. President, Vice President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister. What is that? Sort that mess. That is where the problem is. Not only that. You are draining taxpayers money while the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans are suffering. There is nowhere in the world except in Zimbabwe where you have three presidents and three prime ministers competing to run the country. For that i will award the leaders with honorary degrees. This is for their outstanding efforts to sink Zimbabwe into further into economic doldrums. w**.africvillemagazine.com

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written by Motto, July 22, 2011

They MDC formations want to reap were they did not sow! Their party was formed and controlled by former Rhodies. If MDC rules this country all the provinces will declare independence,we may end up with six or m*re countries from tiny Zimbabwe.

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