Ministers snub Tsvangirai's 'cabinet'

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's bid to chair Cabinet in President Mugabe's absence on Tuesday flopped when Zanu-PF ministers boycotted the meeting.

The meeting was called on the pretext of following up on issues raised in the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy at last Thursday's Council of Ministers' meeting.

The Prime Minister's spokesman Mr Luke Tamborinyoka confirmed the meeting did not go ahead as scheduled.

He, however, expressed dismay that Zanu-PF ministers boycotted the meeting which he said had been called on the recommendation of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

But Minister Kasukuwere dismissed Mr Tamborinyoka's assertions and questioned why the meeting had been called on a Tuesday, instead of Thursday.

The Council of Ministers, established to follow-up ministers' reports, is held every Thursday while Cabinet, which is chaired by President Mugabe, sits on Tuesdays.

The PM chairs the Council of Ministers.

According to a letter sent to ministers on Monday from the PM's Office, yesterday's meeting was expected to discuss concerns arising from the Council of Ministers on the implementation of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy.

Government sources said the meeting had been agreed on March 27, but the ministers were abruptly summoned on Monday.

The letter partly reads: "Honourable Prime Minister is inviting all Cabinet Ministers to a meeting that is expected to discuss the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy.

"The aim of the meeting is to come up with a common Government perspective with regards to the implementation of the Policy."

The letter further states that the policy invariably affected delivery in other ministries.

It said the meeting called for "proper co-ordinating of messages" coming from Government, especially in the international forum.

However, the meeting collapsed when Zanu-PF ministers boycotted.

"There was a strong sense against the meeting that the Prime Minister wanted to convene a mini-Cabinet meeting.

"The Zanu-PF ministers questioned why PM Tsvangirai moved the meeting a day before condemning the same policy.

"They felt there was no need to call for the meeting when he (PM Tsvangirai) had pre-empted the meeting hence there was nothing to discuss."

Sources said Zanu-PF ministers were dismayed that the PM called for the meeting after meeting anti-Zanu-PF functionaries in Britain. PM Tsvangirai, during his recent trip to London to attend the CEO Summit, met Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour Party leader

Mr Ed Milliband, British Foreign Secretary Mr William Hague and former premier Mr Tony Blair.

Mr Tamborinyoka said the Council of Ministers had discussed the Indigenisation and Empowerment Policy where it emerged that it was cross-cutting.

"It emerged that the policy was affecting all ministries and the meeting agreed that since the President was not around, they could meet and discuss further these issues."

He said Minister Kasukuwere suggested the meeting and it was an agreement by all ministers.

"There is serious policy and ideological disagreement and the parties in the inclusive Government have differences over the policy."

Minister Kasukuwere confirmed the meeting on March 27 discussed the Zimbabwe Youth Fund.

"It was actually the ministers from the MDC formations, especially Minister (David) Coltart, who asked why the money is not reaching his constituency especially in Matabeleland.

"It came as a surprise to us why we received discordant messages from the MDC formations. They attack the policies when they are out of Zimbabwe."

He said they had agreed to another meeting so that they can send a clear message to the world on such policies on a united front.

"We wanted the ministers to harmonise our position but I am, however, surprised by the Prime Minister's turnaround and blasting the same policy in the Press.

"If he has issues he should approach me so that we discuss them or we take them to Cabinet. And if I had said there would not be such a meeting why would Ian

Makone (secretary in the Prime Minister's office) go on and call for the meeting?

"Why did they choose a day when the President is away to convene a meeting on Tuesday? Why are they complaining that the meeting did not go ahead when I said it was not necessary?"