DPM Mutambara likely to quit Government

Herald

25th January 2011

By Tendai Mugabe

DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara could quit Government following moves by MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube to reassign him as a Cabinet Minister.

Prof Ncube on Sunday said the party had resolved to re-deploy DPM Mutambara, who lost leadership of the party at a recent congress, to the Regional Integration and International Co-operation portfolio.
However, indications are the robotics and mechatronics professor is not interested in any position in the party and Government on an MDC ticket.
He has kept his cards close to his chest since the acrimonious congress deposed him early this month.

Senior politicians and Government officials yesterday said the suddenly reclusive DPM had told his confidantes that he was assessing the situation and would soon make a public statement on his intentions.
Last night, a senior Government official said Prof Mutambara had flown out of Harare on Sunday evening and was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The official met Prof Mutambara on Sunday, but would not be drawn into saying what they discussed.

“He will comment when he comes back. It’s better to hear it from the horse’s mouth,” he said.
Another source disclosed that Prof Mutambara met several senior Government officials, oddly none of them from MDC, on Sunday.
“What they discussed is up to them to divulge but it appears DPM Mutambara is taking things in stride and is more disappointed than he is angry with what is going on,” said the source.

Mr David Coltart, one of the three MDC officials who sit in Cabinet, last night said he did not know what Prof Mutambara was planning.

“I was not there at the meeting (on Sunday) when the decision was made and I don’t know if he has been formally informed of the reassignment. “I don’t think he will reject the reassignment because he is someone who can do well in that portfolio as he is respected in the region.”
An official who has worked with Prof Mutambara since he was appointed DPM in 2009, told The Herald that the former MDC leader was not “worried about the future”.
“He has other options outside of Government and MDC and is not bothered by what the new MDC leader is doing.”

It is not clear what these options are but there is speculation that he might go back full time into private consultancy, or – though this is highly unlikely at present – join another party or form one of his own.
DPM Mutambara’s silence has led to a lot of conjecture as to what he is thinking and plotting, after having entered national politics in 2006 when he was invited to lead the MDC formation that had the previous year broken away from the one led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

While Prof Ncube has said his party wants him to take over the deputy premiership, it is not a simple matter of reassigning Prof Mutambara.
The constitution and the Global Political Agreement, which gave rise to the inclusive Government, make it clear that President Mugabe – as the Head of State and Government – has the sole prerogative of hiring, reassigning or firing members of Cabinet.

All Prof Ncube can do is make a recommendation but the final decision reposes in President Mugabe.
Technically this means Prof Mutambara could remain DPM at President Mugabe’s pleasure, or he could accept a reassignment that is effectively a demotion, or in the final extreme simply quit Government.
Should he quit Government, he can put back on the robes of a private citizen or pursue other options as an active politician.

Last year President Mugabe accepted a request from Prime Minister Tsvangirai for changes to the MDC-T line in Government, a reshuffle apparently instigated by internal party strife.
Constitutional law expert Dr Lovemore Maduku yesterday said it was up to President Mugabe to oblige Prof Ncube or dismiss his recommendations.
“There is no such thing as recalling, redeployment or reassigning in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“There are only two options available; in this case that DPM Mutambara has to resign or else President Mugabe has to dismiss him.
“If Mutambara refuses to go and President Mugabe does not dismiss him, there is nothing Ncube can do.
“What if President Mugabe says I cannot dismiss Mutambara because he is competent in Government and has only lost a mere party election?
“It’s his (President Mugabe’s) constitutional right and there is nothing Prof Ncube can do about that,” he said.

Dr Maduku said Prof Ncube’s ascension to the helm of the MDC was of no legal consequence in State politics and structures.
Political analyst Professor Jonathan Moyo said it would probably be best for Prof Mutambara to accede to his party’s wishes for him to remain a credible politician.
“It is in his interest to remain cool because in that case he may be a recipient of God’s mercy. He may be surprised to get many opportunities including being invited by other parties.
“He should accept with humility serving as Regional Integration Minister because Prof Ncube just wants to provoke him into leaving the post so that he can replace him with one of his own cronies,” said Prof Moyo.

He questioned why Prof Ncube did not even want Prof Mutambara to become Industry and Commerce Minister.
Prof Ncube is the incumbent Industry Minister.
He has recommended that MDC secretary-general Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga be appointed Industry Minister.
She is presently in charge of the Regional Integration brief.

Speculation is that Prof Ncube is banking on Prof Mutambara rejecting the demotion and quitting Government so that he can then appoint MDC vice president, Mr Edwin Mushoriwa, as the Regional Integration Minister.
All three Prof Mutambara, Prof Ncube and Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga are non constituency Members of Parliament