Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to come under pressure from members of the MDC-T National Council meeting in Masvingo today as frustration grows in his party over failure to resolve outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement.

Senior party officials are among those who have become disillusioned as hardliners aligned to President Robert Mugabe continue to harass party activists, lawyers and journalists.

The sustained harassment comes at a time the inclusive government has pledged reforms to allow national healing and create a conducive environment for economic revival.

The officials, some in government have all but watched as Mugabe refused to rein in individuals accused of working against the spirit of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

MDC-T sources yesterday said there was growing concern in the party over what they perceive as failure by the PM to stand up to Mugabe.

They pointed out that of late Tsvangirai had sought to defend Mugabe or project an image of a normal working relationship between him and the President, yet evidence to the contrary abounds.

MDC-T activists accused of terrorism and banditry last week continued to have a torrid time in the courts, they said. Mugabe has also stalled the swearing in of Roy Bennett, the deputy of Minister of agriculture-designate.

They also said Tsvangirai wanted it to appear as though outstanding issues were being resolved yet Mugabe was clear in his determination to retain Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono.

Tomana was heavily criticised last week after he was named as the man who gave the directive to arrest two Zimbabwe Independent journalists.

The AG’s office also came under the spotlight after persistently invoking a section of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which allows the state to continue to detain MDC activists. A judge ruled last week that the state’s case against the activists was weak.

MDC officials said while the arrests escalated, the PM’s office sent signals that all was well in the GNU. The office said a breakthrough had been reached between the principals and an announcement would be made early in the week.

Later the office said an announcement would be made by Friday. Up until the time of going to press last night, no statement had been issued.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson James Maridadi could only say: “The principals met and agreed on a position and that position will be announced in due course at a time that is appropriate.”

Party insiders said failure to make the announcement was hardly surprising given that no firm resolution had been made on the outstanding issues.

While Mugabe had pledged to meet Tsvangirai and iron out the outstanding issues early last week, he had changed his tune by requesting a postponement of the meeting until ZANU PF’s politburo meeting on Thursday.

On Wednesday night, ZANU PF politburo members were told the meeting had been cancelled. MDC-T officials saw the cancellation of the politburo meeting as a delaying tactic.

“Mugabe has succeeded for three months in delaying the resolution of these matters. He gives one excuse after another,” said an official yesterday.

The sources said little progress had been made on the crucial issues and the MDC-T’s supreme decision making body would debate the way forward in view of ZANU PF’s intransigence.

There were suggestions yesterday that Mugabe had backed down on removing the communications portfolio from Minister Nelson Chamisa. A 100-day action plan unveiled by the PM and Vice-President Joice Mujuru appeared to confirm that.

The plan approved by cabinet on April 28, gives Chamisa the overall authority to conduct a national communications infrastructure audit and improve by 30% telephone and mobile communication services.

Chamisa is also expected to officiate at tomorrow’s World Telecommunications Commemoration ceremony in Harare.

The Standard understands that although Chamisa may have won the fight, hardliners in ZANU PF insist Chamisa cannot be trusted with managing the Interception of Communications Act, the law that gives the state legal basis to spy on citizens.

The three principals – Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara – have met eight times in the past three weeks without agreement on the future of Gono and Tomana.

The MDC-T wants this matter referred to SADC.

MDC-T sources say Mugabe is determined to retain Gono and Tomana even at the cost of collapse of the GNU.

In Masvingo, the council will meet ahead of the party’s 10th anniversary celebrations scheduled for Mucheke stadium later in the day.

(Source)