Tsvangirai rejects Mugabe appointment of permanent secretaries

By Lance Guma
25 February 2009

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday held a joint press conference with his Deputy, Arthur Mutambara, at which both men rejected the unilateral appointment of ministerial Permanent Secretaries by Mugabe on Tuesday. Tsvangirai said these were, ‘in contravention of both the Global Political Agreement and the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which is very clear with regard to senior government appointments.’ Under the deal only the leadership of the President, his two deputies and the Prime Minister with his two deputies, will consult and agree on such appointments. Tsvangirai said Mugabe’s announcement therefore had no force in law. It’s expected Tsvangirai and Mutambara will meet Mugabe later in the week to try to resolve the impasse.

According to a statement issued by Tsvangirai after the press conference, ‘the Permanent Secretaries who were in position as of September 15th will remain in post in an acting capacity until the matter is resolved. This government will not allow a parallel force within its structures or any unconstitutional or unilateral actions which serve to impede progress.’ He also explained that several issues remained unresolved, such as the appointment of ambassadors, Reserve Bank Governor, Attorney General, provincial governors and the continued flouting of the rule of law by ZANU PF. ‘In particular, a new wave of disruptions of farming operations, in contravention of the Memorandum of Understanding, is undermining our ability to revive our agricultural sector and restore investor confidence,’ he said.

Tsvangirai revealed that all the principals in the deal, himself, Mutambara and Mugabe, agreed last week that, ‘all political detainees who have been formally charged with a crime should be released on bail and those that have not been charged should be released unconditionally. This has not yet happened.’ He said the Attorney General’s office is willfully obstructing the release of all detainees by abusing the appeal process. Despite Tsvangirai’s objections Mugabe is making it clear he is in charge by refusing to release the detainees, some of whom have spent almost 5 months in custody. Insiders say ZANU PF will only release them in return for blanket immunity for security chiefs, who supervised the murder of over 200 innocent civilians in the run up to last years June one-man presidential run-off.

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