West seeks assistance to topple Tsvangirai, replace him with an academic - Claims

The  state controlled media reports that some Western governments, through their emissaries in Harare, approached National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman Professor Lovemore Madhuku to get assistance in toppling MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and to replace him with an academic.

Speaking at a SAPES Trust meeting in the capital last week, Prof Madhuku said Western diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe consulted him on a suitable candidate who could succeed Mr Tsvangirai.

Although he would not divulge how he responded to the ambassadors, Prof Madhuku said the West was largely responsible for factionalism within the party. Prof Madhuku harbours political ambitions and it is not clear whether he is trying to curry favour with Mr Tsvangirai through such utterances.

"There is a mentality throughout Western embassies that MDC-T must be led by an academic.

"They have confided in and consulted me on the best candidate to lead the party instead of Prime Minister Tsvangirai," he said.

"We know that they are sponsoring a lot of programmes at Harvest House in a bid to have an academic lead the party."

He claimed that the embassies were also sponsoring academics within the party to sow division.

"The embassies are creating instability within the party by discussing succession issues," he said.

Commenting on the matter, trade unionist Mr Lovemore Matombo accused Westerners of being divisive.

"They have always been like that. These embassies are divisive because they prefer other candidates," he said.

MDC-T spokesman Mr Douglas Mwonzora said the party was fully behind Mr Tsvangirai.

"(Prof) Madhuku should concentrate on reviving his NCA, which is on the brink of collapse rather than commenting on behalf of the MDC," said Mr Mwonzora.

Turning to elections, Prof Madhuku said President Mugabe was legitimately elected in 2008 and given the mandate to form the inclusive Government. He said he would, himself, join politics after the constitutional referendum.

"I can only leave (office) after the referendum because I have stayed for too long. From there, I will join politics full time," he said.

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