Mugabe Instructs Govt Ministers to By-Pass Tsvangirai

HARARE – 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.

Circular

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.

* Zimonline