THE Welshman Ncube-led MDC described as “curious” claims by President Robert Mugabe that Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara cannot be recalled from office by his party.
The MDC wants Ncube to take over as deputy premier after he replaced Mutambara as leader during a recent party congress. Mutambara – who has not publicly commented on the changes -- has since been assigned the post of Regional Integration Minister.
However, speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was attending an African Union summit, President Mugabe said Mutambara can only be replaced if he chose to resign.
“They (the MDC) were able to remove him politically, but legally he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament. I swore him in as Deputy Prime Minister,” Mugabe said.
“It’s up to him if he wants to resign, but if he refuses, well, we are stuck, but the Global Political Agreement (GPA) will go ahead.”
But in a statement released on Sunday, the MDC said Mugabe’s reading of the power sharing pact was inaccurate.
“President has no power or right to appoint any person into the cabinet without the approval of (their) party through (its) leadership,” said Nhlanhla Dube, the party’s spokesman.
“Equally clear,” he added, “is the right of each party to reshuffle, reassign or recall any of its representatives, the President being required only to formally make the appointments as requested by the parties.”
The party drew comparisons with a mini-reshuffle by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of a rival MDC faction, in June last year when he dropped Energy Minister Elias Mudzuri and National Housing Minister Fidelis Mhashu. His party only communicated the changes to Mugabe, who accepted.
Dube added: “It was never suggested that the MDC-T required the consent or resignation of those that it had reassigned or removed from cabinet position.
“It is curious that it is now suggested that there is one rule for the MDC-T and Zanu PF, and another for MDC. We are left with no doubt that this is not a legal question but a political one where some parties are more equal than others.
“We have no doubt that the public can’t be fooled and will definitely understand what is happening.”
Mutambara returns this week from Davos, Switzerland, where he attended the World Economic Forum with a crucial decision to make over his political career.