Fresh power struggle rocks power Zimbabwe coalition

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister (PM) Morgan Tsvangirai are locked in a fresh power struggle after the former instructed government ministers to report to his two vice-presidents by-passing the Premier – a clear breach of the former foes' power-sharing agreement.

The global political agreement (GPA) that gave birth to the Harare coalition government splits powers between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

The GPA – itself a source of incessant squabbling between the two rivals over its implementation – specifically charges Tsvangirai with overseeing formulation and implementation of government policies and requires ministers to "report to the Prime Minister on all issues relating to the implementation of such policies and plans".

But Mugabe's chief secretary Misheck Sibanda in a circular to Cabinet ministers and their permanent secretaries said Vice President Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo – all from Mugabe's Zanu PF party – will assist the veteran leader to run the government.

The January 25 Circular No. 2/2010 reads: "I am directed to inform you that in the inclusive government, Honourable Vice Presidents will continue to assist His Excellency, the President in the general supervision and management of the administration of government business just as the Honourable Prime Minister is assisted by deputy prime ministers."

Sibanda's circular does not spell out whether ministers are expected to continue reporting to Tsvangirai and if so, who takes precedence over the other, the PM – who is also deputy chairman of Cabinet – or the two Vice-Presidents. But a closer reading of the document shows it is a well-calculated move to isolate the PM's office, leaving Tsvangirai – with all his powers given him by the Constitution and the GPA intact – but no one to supervise and no means to execute decisions.

Permanent secretaries are the chief executives of government ministries and having them report directly to Vice-Presidents leaving out Tsvangirai effectively cripples the PM leaving him unable to influence and direct formulation of government policies or their execution.

Sibanda's circular says Mujuru supervises all social and agricultural ministries, in addition to overseeing the implementation of programmes to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector; implementation of the indigenisation and empowerment programmes including women empowerment in gender equity programmes.

Mujuru will also supervise Zimbabwe's strategic public utilities and continue to chair the Cabinet committees on honours and awards, state occasions and national monuments and parastatals. According to Sibanda, Nkomo will oversee ministries in charge of the economy, finance, mines, industry, energy, international cooperation, tourism and natural resources management.

Nkomo will also chair the Cabinet committee of rural development as well as supervise bilateral and investments promotion agreements, land reform, local government, sport and recreation programmes. If Sibanda's circular is followed to the letter, Tsvangirai would virtually become a 'titular Prime Minister' whose presence in or absence from the government will be of no consequence.

But the PM's office immediately rejected the attempt to emasculate Tsvangirai with the former opposition leader's chief secretary Ian Makone accusing Sibanda in a memo of attempting to engineer a usurpation of the powers of the Prime Minister.

In a letter dated January 29, Makone reminds Sibanda of the powers and duties of the PM prescribed under the Constitution and in the GPA. Makone, who copied his response to Sibanda to all ministers and permanent secretaries, said Tsvangirai and his two deputies will share supervision of all government ministries. Makone wrote: "The Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara supervises the infrastructure and security cluster while Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, supervises the social and rights cluster. The Prime Minister supervises the economic cluster. To avoid further confusion, I have been directed to circulate this letter to all ministries and heads of ministries as a corrective measure to clarify any misconceptions that may have been created. Members of the Council of Ministers are requested to take note accordingly."

There were indications last night that ministers from Tsvangirai's MDC party will ignore Sibanda's circular, with the PM's office understood to be now saying it is not aware of the circular by Mugabe's secretary.

However ignoring Sibanda's circular might turn out to be only a political gesture that will have little real impact on the ground because permanent secretaries – who run government departments – were appointed by Mugabe and are most likely to abide by instructions from the President's office.

It remains to be seen how the latest wrangle in Zimbabwe's troubled coalition government will play out. The government that completes a year in office this month is also mired in dispute over a host of outstanding issues from the GPA, chief among them Mugabe's refusal to rescind his unilateral appointment of two of his top allies to head the attorney general's office and the central bank.

Mugabe has also refused to appoint members of the former opposition MDC formations as provincial governor and to swear in Tsvangirai all Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister. On its part Zanu PF insists it has done the most to uphold the power-sharing deal and instead accuses the MDC of reneging on promises to campaign for lifting of Western sanctions on Mugabe and his top allies.

Zimbabwe's unity government has been able to stabilise the economy, end hyperinflation and shortages of basic commodities.

But analysts fear unending bickering between the parties and the administration's failure win significant financial support from Western countries could in the long run render the coalition ineffective or, in the worst case scenario, cause its collapse. - Zimonline