What Mugabe said to Jonathan Moyo.. 'why are you here?'

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Tuesday shocked one of his senior ministers, Information minister Jonathan Moyo, when he unexpectedly told him to leave cabinet room at Munhumutapa Building indicating he was no longer a minister - at least for now - in a move which could herald a looming cabinet reshuffle and political re-alignments after Zanu-PF's stormy congress last December.

Government and Zanu-PF officials told the Zimbabwe Independent this week the dramatic move reflects growing conflict within the ruling party and government in the aftermath of Zanu-PF's controversial congress which booted out former vice-president Joice Mujuru and several other bigwigs aligned to her.

Cabinet ministers who witnessed the drama on Tuesday said Mugabe's surprise strike at Moyo was like a bolt from the blue as no one expected him to treat him like that after his by-election victory when there had been opportunities to resolve the issue quietly without outsiders knowing.

Given Mugabe and Moyo's love-hate political relationship, Tuesday's incident is widely seen as gamesmanship meant to keep the mercurial minister, who is proving to be a major factor on succession, on a tight leash.

Ministers who witnessed the spectacle say after entering the cabinet room and greeting everyone, Mugabe started by expressing surprise and questioning why Moyo was in the meeting. As they did not understand his gripe it thus came out as shock, signalling removal or dismissal in an unusual way.

"When the President arrived, we stood up and he greeted everyone as usual, but as he sat down he turned to Moyo and expressed shock why he was in the meeting," said a senior minister.

"The president expressed surprise that Moyo was there, saying ‘you are here, why are you here?, don't you know that you are no longer a cabinet minister until we decide to re-appoint you?'. He told him that only then would he be required to take a new oath of office as a Member of Parliament being appointed into cabinet."

Moyo is said to have stood up while Mugabe was still speaking and walked to him where they engaged in hushed tones, with Mugabe doing most of the talking after which Moyo went back to his seat which was about six chairs away from his boss and gathered his belongings before walking out, leaving colleagues stunned.

"Moyo was emotionless as Mugabe addressed him. He looked stoical but we were just astounded. We didn't expect the President to humiliate him as he did because the issue could have been resolved before the meeting or any day between June 10 when the by-elections were held and Tuesday," said another minister.

"But I believe that the decision to freeze him out, whether temporary or not, was after advice given by the Attorney-General (Prince Machaya), but I cannot say if that counsel is valid or not, and why they decided to enforce it on that particular day. It was almost a week after he was sworn-in as a new MP and the president could have simply informed him before cabinet that he was no longer a minister in the meantime, and should not attend cabinet meetings until the issue has been regularised."

Debate and speculation are raging as to why Moyo was ejected from cabinet with some saying it was a technical issue after his Tsholotsho North by-election victory, while others insist it was Machiavellian move by Mugabe which is neither a constitutional nor a legal requirement.

Moyo has remained tied lipped following his reported removal from Cabinet by President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday.

Moyo's removal has set tongues wagging with many people struggling to explain the legal and political motives behind the move.

Possibly things would become clearer after Mugabe's return from Mozambique.