Tsvangirai has no power to remove Chihuri

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai does not have constitutional powers to remove police chief Augustine Chihuri and Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga from office, even though the GPA allows him to have a say in their appointments.

The power to remove the service chiefs from office is that of the commander in chief alone or the President, and he may do so "for any reason" though in doing so he must consult with Cabinet.

The MDC formations were gearing up for a fight when terms of office of the country's service chiefs expire at the end of this month and February.

The MDC-T told the Independent yesterday that police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga's terms expire at the end of the month, while Prisons Services Commissioner retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi, Air Force commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri and Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Sibanda's tenures all expire at the end of February.

MDC-N deputy president Edwin Mushoriwa and MDC-T secretary for security Giles Mutsekwa said Mugabe should consult Tsvangirai on either new appointments or renewal of the contracts as underlined by the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which gave birth to the present inclusive government.

The GPA stipulates that the president should consult the prime minister when making key appointments.

Mutsekwa said they would not allow Mugabe to disregard the GPA by making unilateral decisions.

He said the expiry of the contracts gave the inclusive government an opportunity to get rid of the service chiefs, who have in the past made political statements.

Mutsekwa added that Mugabe had no authority to renew the contracts without agreeing with other parties in the inclusive government.

Mutsekwa said his party was not targeting the service chiefs for personal reasons but for their involvement in politics.

The service chiefs have proved to be loyal to Mugabe and have been effective in the political assignments he has given them. The service chiefs fought fiercely to keep Mugabe in power during the 2008 elections.

Mugabe views the service chiefs as loyal to him and this has been evident through statements they have made in the past vowing not to support anyone without liberation war credentials.