News / National
I am not shaken by threats to arrest me - Tsvangirai
30 Jan 2012 at 17:22hrs | Views
HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he remains unshaken over threats to have him arrested ahead of possible elections this year, arguing that these are mere political machinations plotted by politicians who are afraid to face him at the ballot.
The MDC strongly believes some senior government officials and service chiefs are maliciously pushing for Tsvangirai's arrest accusing him and Hebson Makuvise, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Germany, of embezzling $1,5 million in 2009.
Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesperson told the Daily News yesterday that the premier came to know about his "arrest" in the newspapers but was not shaken by the move.
"He is reading about the so-called planned arrest in the newspapers.
This is obvious politics, his conscience is clear and he remains unshaken.
"He is not worried about these threats and continues to work as the country's Prime Minister and also as leader of the MDC," said Tamborinyoka.
He added that Tsvangirai has not been interviewed or interrogated by the police or anyone over the issue.
Tamborinyoka said the purported fraud was just an imagination of those plotting the PM's downfall.
The intended arrest follows a similar pattern in which active MDC members have been arrested and detained throughout the country without trial.
The MDC has accused Zanu PF of using the police to arrest its members to destabilise its structures.
MDC youth president Solomon Madzore and a number of the party's supporters have been languishing I'm not scared: PM
in remand prison for months on end, while being denied bail.
As the country approaches elections, political parties fear a crackdown on Zanu PF opponents will escalate and that their main target at the moment was Tsvangirai who poses the greatest challenge to Mugabe.
The plot to arrest Tsvangirai emanates from alleged funds the PM is accused of misusing which are said to have been released by the RBZ to renovate a house government bought for him.
Tsvangirai is accused of having been paid twice, by the RBZ and Treasury for the same project.
The push to arrest Tsvangirai is reportedly being orchestrated by top security officials and a senior RBZ official.
Another official close to Tsvangirai said: "I talked to the PM who professed ignorance on the fraud. Actually as we speak, the government is building a house for the PM in Harare. So why would the PM have asked for a loan from the same government that is building him a house?"
After the formation of the inclusive government in February 2009, Tsvangirai was expected to move to State House or Zimbabwe House but Mugabe seemed to have fought against such moves. Mugabe has moved out of Zimbabwe House to his privately-owned home in Borrowdale, hence the expectation that the PM would move into either.
Another top Tsvangirai official said the plot against the Prime Minister seemed to be thickening on the horizon as other personalities fighting for positions in their various spheres including at the RBZ were trying to bring in the PM's name.
There are plots within the RBZ to topple RBZ Governor Gideon Gono and Tsvangirai's issue is being used by senior RBZ officials to bootlick Mugabe in the hope of taking over the top central bank post if Gono gets the boot.
"There are certain personalities fighting their wars using the PM's name. It is not fair because they are producing fake documents which allege the PM as fraudulent. There is a dossier with all sorts of fabricated accusations against the PM and we are aware of that circulating document," said another Tsvangirai aide.
However, officials in Zanu PF and securocrats are said to be divided over the intended arrest.
"There is a school of thought to the effect that an arrest now would make the PM even more popular. It might collapse the inclusive government. Others are of the opinion that the arrest should be made as soon as they create enough evidence to pin him."
"We have intelligence that there are plans, but when, how and where this would take place is everyone's guess," said a minister from the MDC. - Daily News
The MDC strongly believes some senior government officials and service chiefs are maliciously pushing for Tsvangirai's arrest accusing him and Hebson Makuvise, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to Germany, of embezzling $1,5 million in 2009.
Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesperson told the Daily News yesterday that the premier came to know about his "arrest" in the newspapers but was not shaken by the move.
"He is reading about the so-called planned arrest in the newspapers.
This is obvious politics, his conscience is clear and he remains unshaken.
"He is not worried about these threats and continues to work as the country's Prime Minister and also as leader of the MDC," said Tamborinyoka.
He added that Tsvangirai has not been interviewed or interrogated by the police or anyone over the issue.
Tamborinyoka said the purported fraud was just an imagination of those plotting the PM's downfall.
The intended arrest follows a similar pattern in which active MDC members have been arrested and detained throughout the country without trial.
The MDC has accused Zanu PF of using the police to arrest its members to destabilise its structures.
MDC youth president Solomon Madzore and a number of the party's supporters have been languishing I'm not scared: PM
in remand prison for months on end, while being denied bail.
As the country approaches elections, political parties fear a crackdown on Zanu PF opponents will escalate and that their main target at the moment was Tsvangirai who poses the greatest challenge to Mugabe.
The plot to arrest Tsvangirai emanates from alleged funds the PM is accused of misusing which are said to have been released by the RBZ to renovate a house government bought for him.
Tsvangirai is accused of having been paid twice, by the RBZ and Treasury for the same project.
The push to arrest Tsvangirai is reportedly being orchestrated by top security officials and a senior RBZ official.
Another official close to Tsvangirai said: "I talked to the PM who professed ignorance on the fraud. Actually as we speak, the government is building a house for the PM in Harare. So why would the PM have asked for a loan from the same government that is building him a house?"
After the formation of the inclusive government in February 2009, Tsvangirai was expected to move to State House or Zimbabwe House but Mugabe seemed to have fought against such moves. Mugabe has moved out of Zimbabwe House to his privately-owned home in Borrowdale, hence the expectation that the PM would move into either.
Another top Tsvangirai official said the plot against the Prime Minister seemed to be thickening on the horizon as other personalities fighting for positions in their various spheres including at the RBZ were trying to bring in the PM's name.
There are plots within the RBZ to topple RBZ Governor Gideon Gono and Tsvangirai's issue is being used by senior RBZ officials to bootlick Mugabe in the hope of taking over the top central bank post if Gono gets the boot.
"There are certain personalities fighting their wars using the PM's name. It is not fair because they are producing fake documents which allege the PM as fraudulent. There is a dossier with all sorts of fabricated accusations against the PM and we are aware of that circulating document," said another Tsvangirai aide.
However, officials in Zanu PF and securocrats are said to be divided over the intended arrest.
"There is a school of thought to the effect that an arrest now would make the PM even more popular. It might collapse the inclusive government. Others are of the opinion that the arrest should be made as soon as they create enough evidence to pin him."
"We have intelligence that there are plans, but when, how and where this would take place is everyone's guess," said a minister from the MDC. - Daily News
Source - Daily News
