THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) yesterday said it has not quit the inclusive government but severed ties with Zanu PF, which it accuses of acting in bad faith and in contravention of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

It said that position would stand despite the release of Deputy Agriculture minister-designate, Roy Bennett and would remain so, until President Robert Mugabe resolved all the outstanding issues stalling the inclusive government.

The move is set to further widen the differences between the two main parties to the government and raise the possibility of a “two governments-in-one” scenario.

Clarifying the “disengagement”, a senior MDC official and deputy minister of information Jameson Timba said his party had disengaged from Zanu PF and not from the inclusive government.

“The MDC has disengaged not from government but from Zanu PF with respect to two state organs (Cabinet and Council of Ministers) where it interacts with Zanu PF,” Timba said.

“The office of the Prime Minister and the MDC ministerial offices, parliament and our councils will continue to work towards delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe.”

Neither presidential spokesperson George Charamba nor Minister of Information Webster Shamu could be reached for comment.

But Zanu PF deputy spokesperson Ephraim Masawi said his party would not lose sleep over MDC-T’s disengagement because it means nothing to them.

“For us life goes on as usual. We have not lost anything,” Masawi said.

“Vaichaya mapoto. Wakamboona kuchaya mapoto kuine marriage certificate? (They are co-habiting. Have you ever seen those co-habiting having marriage certificates?” Masawi asked.

Sources however said President Robert Mugabe was frantically trying to re-establish contact with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai following the fall out, feared to be the worst since the inclusive government was formed.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson James Maridadi said the two principals in the unity government were yet to meet although there were rumours they met hours after the MDC-T announced its decision.

On Friday, Tsvangirai announced that his party had “disengaged” from Zanu PF, and would not attend cabinet and Council of Ministers meetings until there was confidence and respect among the political parties.

However, the Prime Minister said the party would remain in government.

The latest tension was triggered by Bennett’s detention on Wednesday on sabotage and banditry charges. Bennett was granted bail two days after he was sent  back to jail pending trial.

“It’s not only the Bennett issue but there are a number of outstanding issues that need to be addressed,” said MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa.

The parties are also in dispute over the reappointment of central bank governor Gideon Gono, appintment of Attorney-General Johannes Tomana, provincial governors as well as the persecution of MDC-T officials.

Tsvangirai said the MDC-T is aware of the constitutional implications of the decision, especially the provision that executive power is shared between the President, the Prime Minister and cabinet.

“However, it is a constitutional crisis which should be resolved if Zanu PF and its leadership know that there is a price to pay for procrastination,” Tsvangirai said.

He said if the crisis escalates, the MDC would push for the holding of a free and fair election to be conducted by the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) and African Union (AU), under UN supervision.

But analysts noted that the disengagement could be good news for Zanu PF hardliners who are determined to see the collapse of the inclusive government.

It will also give Zanu PF room to unilaterally make and implement policy decisions, they said.

Constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku said while the MDC-T’s move had political significance, it had no legal force.

Among other things, Madhuku said cabinet meetings would still go ahead in the “voluntary” absence of MDC-T ministers, and this could allow Zanu PF to fast-track some policies.

“They said they are not pulling out of government, they will just not attend cabinet meetings,” Madhuku said.

“If they voluntarily decide not to attend cabinet meetings that will not have an effect on other cabinet members. It is either they are in or they are out.”

Madhuku said cabinet was not regulated by strict law but by constitutional conventions or rules of practice, most of which were not written.

“All legal issues work against the MDC-T. Nothing will stop the government from working,” he added.

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairperson said the MDC-T boycott could plunge the country into a similar situation to what happened between March 29 last year and February 11 this year, when Zanu PF ruled without the mandate of the people.

Some of the landmarks of that period were the controversial appointment of Gono and Tomana.

But one MDC official said the net effect of MDC-T’s “disengagement” is a constitutional crisis and a paralysis of the inclusive government.

The official, who requested anonymity, said while Mugabe chairs cabinet, Tsvangirai oversees formulation of policy and if the office of the Prime Minister is no longer part of the Cabinet “it means there will be no policy formulation and implementation to be done”.

The disengagement also means that Mugabe cannot appoint anyone to parastatals, Vice- Chancellors of universities and Commissions because Constitutional Amendment No 19 states that he has to do that in consultation with the Prime Minister.

Under Constitutional Amendment 19, Mugabe makes senior appointments in terms of the Constitution and in consultation with the Prime Minister.

This, said Madhuku, would also work against the MDC-T as Mugabe may decide to go it alone “if the Prime Minister is not available for consultation”.

Zanu PF prodigal son Jonathan Moyo said the MDC had “created a perfect opportunity for the appointment of an acting Finance Minister who will treat international credit lines with the urgency they deserve”.

“They are creating a lot of problems for themselves just for the sake of one white person,” Moyo said.

By Caiphas Chimhete and Vusumuzi Sifile

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