Zimbabwe PM sues Robert Mugabe for violating power-sharing deal

Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai is suing President Robert Mugabe, alleging he violated the constitution and a fragile coalition deal.
Tsvangirai said Mugabe's unilateral appointment of ten provincial governors last month was unconstitutional and he seeks annulment.

In court papers released yesterday, the prime minister claims Mugabe violated the constitution intentionally.

He claims the 20-month old power-sharing agreement requires the president to consult with the premier before making key appointments, which Mugabe, 86, failed to do.

The presidency did not immediately comment. However, officials insisted elections would go ahead by 30 June next year, with or without electoral reforms.

Rugare Gumbo, a spokesman for Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, brushed aside funding fears, saying they were "neither here nor there", adding: "As a party we will find ways around it, but we are very clear elections will be held."

Critics believe diamonds from the violence-riddled eastern Chiadzwa fields will be used to fund Mugabe's war chest.

More than 200 Tsvangirai supporters were killed when the long-time Zimbabwe leader lost the first round of presidential elections in March 2008.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa this week alleged soldiers and Zanu-PF youths were already being deployed to villages where violence was "raising its ugly head".

Tsvangirai has said he does not want to take part in another violent election. His party hopes South African president Jacob Zuma, who is expected in Harare today, will talk tough to Mugabe with the polls just seven months away. But the South African Development Community- appointed facilitator has been unwilling to confront the Zimbabwean president on violence on previous visits.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans have been ogling the vast wealth of one of Mugabe's cronies this month and analysts say that instead of disgusting voters, it may merely spark their envy.

Less than 15 years ago, local government minister Ignatius Chombo was a college lecturer who - friends say - supplemented his modest salary by selling eggs. Encouraged by his wife, he joined Zanu-PF.

According to a list of matrimonial assets drawn up as part of a divorce case and printed in the local Herald newspaper, Mr Chombo now owns or until recently owned 15 vehicles, 14 houses, five flats and more than 70 property stands.

Commentators fear Zimbabwe's nine-year economic slump has taken its toll on locals' "moral sense" and made them more tolerant of corruption.

"Those who have made their money through deceit have become heroes," says independent editor Nevanji Madanhire.

"Zimbabweans are generally not repulsed by the lifestyles of the newly-rich, instead they envy them. It is now very difficult to convince the ordinary Zimbabwean that there is anything wrong with corruption."
Mr Chombo's lawyer contests that 90 per cent of the properties listed do not belong to him and the paper has published a retraction. This week, newspapers published letters of support for Mr Chombo, although a parliamentary portfolio committee has an
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nounced it will conduct a probe into his assets.

Other Zanu-PF functionaries openly splash their wealth around. Mugabe's flamboyant nephew, Phillip Chiyangwa, cemented his grassroots popularity with frequent donations. Last month he shelled out £191,000 overnight to Zimbabwe's losing Big Brother Africa housemate.

Mr Chiyangwa last week boasted he owned £125 million in assets "and if it means selling everything to ensure the MDC does not get into power, let it be".

Political analyst John Makumbe contends that while in public Zimbabweans appear to condone corruption, "they would like to fight it, but it's simply not safe".

Makumbe, a trustee of Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), insists that there is a lot of hidden anger against corruption in Zimbabwe. "If you talk about democracy and dictatorship, they send the police to beat you up. But if you talk about corruption, they kill you."