Chinamasa will not quit

Former Finance minister and opposition PDP leader, Tendai Biti, yesterday said given Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa's fear and inability to survive outside Zanu PF, the former attorney-general would not quit, but instead allow himself to be insulted and embarrassed.

Cabinet on Tuesday dramatically reversed the scrapping of bonuses for civil servants and salary cuts, hardly a week after Chinamasa announced the shock measures.

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said the bonus U-Turn confirmed "the utter dysfunctionality, policy incoherence and confusion within the splintered and collapsing Zanu PF regime".

"Mugabe is just being populist, as has been the hallmark of his political career. He's now pretending Chinamasa is doing his own thing without approval," he said.

"This is a blue lie. Mugabe is just playing to the gallery by coming out as someone who is fighting in the civil servants' corner. He is blowing hot and cold. He's being thoroughly insincere and dishonest."

Last year, Chinamasa suffered similar humiliation from Mugabe, after he again announced government was scrapping payment of annual bonuses.

Mugabe immediately reversed the decision, leaving Chinamasa with egg on the face.