News / National
Mutambara dismiss MDC coup claim
16 Jun 2013 at 11:44hrs | Views
Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara has dismissed reports claiming he had been ousted as leader of his MDC formation.
The State media reported that Mutambara had been removed at an ad-hoc meeting of the party's national executive committee which was called to discuss preparations for the forthcoming elections.
The alleged palace coup was carried out while the deputy premier attended the SADC meeting in Maputo, Mozambique.
But Mutambara says the allegations were "completely false".
National organising secretary Robson Mashiri was quoted as saying the deputy premier had been removed because he was concentrating on his government role and neglecting party business.
He added that Mutambara had effectively become a "ceremonial leader", leaving the running of the party to national chairman Joubert Mudzumwe.
Mutambara however, said Mashiri and Mudzumwe had been paid to make the allegations.
"It (alleged ousting) is completely false. It was just two individuals Mashiri and Mudzumwe who have had extensive personal financial and legal problems," he said.
"They have been paid to say those statements. They were desperate for financial resources."
Still, Mashiri insisted that Mutambara and his deputy Nomalanga Khumalo had been sacked adding the party would likely seek an alliance with the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube ahead of the new elections.
"Mutambara has not shown interest in becoming our president at all even with the elections approaching," said Mashiri.
"He (Mutambara) only ran back to us when his position in Government was under threat and we have realised he does not have the party at heart.
"As a result, the national executive resolved that we will not be fielding a presidential candidate this election. We will seek to form a coalition with like-minded political parties.
"At the moment, we are not considering him at all as representative of the party. We will hold a special congress after the elections that will realign the party's leadership in the wake of defections and expulsions."
The State media reported that Mutambara had been removed at an ad-hoc meeting of the party's national executive committee which was called to discuss preparations for the forthcoming elections.
The alleged palace coup was carried out while the deputy premier attended the SADC meeting in Maputo, Mozambique.
But Mutambara says the allegations were "completely false".
National organising secretary Robson Mashiri was quoted as saying the deputy premier had been removed because he was concentrating on his government role and neglecting party business.
He added that Mutambara had effectively become a "ceremonial leader", leaving the running of the party to national chairman Joubert Mudzumwe.
Mutambara however, said Mashiri and Mudzumwe had been paid to make the allegations.
"They have been paid to say those statements. They were desperate for financial resources."
Still, Mashiri insisted that Mutambara and his deputy Nomalanga Khumalo had been sacked adding the party would likely seek an alliance with the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube ahead of the new elections.
"Mutambara has not shown interest in becoming our president at all even with the elections approaching," said Mashiri.
"He (Mutambara) only ran back to us when his position in Government was under threat and we have realised he does not have the party at heart.
"As a result, the national executive resolved that we will not be fielding a presidential candidate this election. We will seek to form a coalition with like-minded political parties.
"At the moment, we are not considering him at all as representative of the party. We will hold a special congress after the elections that will realign the party's leadership in the wake of defections and expulsions."
Source - newswires
