But MDC-T officials say Tsvangirai only consulted a few people in his party before forwarding the names to Mugabe. They also claimed that some of the people appointed into the commission were not supposed to be near such an important body.
“We are shocked to hear that this list was approved by Mugabe in consultation with Tsvangirai and yet this issue was never put before us as the national executive,” said one senior party official. “He is slowly becoming dictatorial.”
However, MDC-T party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the names were approved by the party’s standing committee. He said it was mischievous for any senior party member to claim that the names were not agreed upon.
“The names were discussed by the party’s standing committee which does exercise the functions of the national executive committee in between meetings of the national executive committee,” Mwonzora said.
“So this issue was discussed at a very senior party level.” Mwonzora said the names were also discussed by the Standing Orders and Rules Committee of Parliament.
Sources said the MDC-T seconded former police assistant commissioner Emmanuel Chimwanda and prominent church leader Goodwill Shana.He also recommended the commission’s deputy Teresa Mugadza, who is a policy consultant.
Mwonzora said while his party might have reservations about some of the new commissioners, MDC-T had no power to remove people seconded by other parties.The most important thing, said Mwonzora, was to give the commission the independence and maximum support it needs to discharge its duties without political interference.The commission is chaired by former employee of the Ministries of Defence and Justice and Legal Affairs, Denford Chirindo.
