Radio Dialogue Giving you a voice
The Professor Welshman Ncube led Movement for Democratic Change party on Monday snubbed the opening ceremony of the 2nd All Stakeholders’ Conference protesting against “smuggling in” of Professor Arthur Mutambara as a GPA principal.
MDC leader Welshman Ncube accused President Robert Mugabe of reneging on an earlier agreement that Mutambara would only give a vote of thanks after the principals who included himself (Ncube) had addressed.
Deputy spokesperson of the party Kurauone Chihwayi told Radio Dialogue that ZANU PF and MDC-T conspired to produce a parallel program. He alleged that MDC COPAC co-chairperson Edward Mkhosi was also duped into believing that Ncube would speak as a principal instead of Mutambara.
“As far as we know there are three principals in Zimbabwe but according to Mnangagwa, Mugabe, Biti, Matinenga and Mwonzora, there are four principals so the two parties (MDC-T and ZANU PF) are trying to reform the Government of National Unity, they want a Government with four principals,” Chihwayi said.
Professor Welshman Ncube later met President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team led by Lindiwe Zulu to mediate in the feud.
Speaking at a media briefing after the meeting, Ncube told journalists that they will write to the SADC Troika Chairperson President Jakaya Kikwete to inform him about the “continued violation of the SADC-Maputo resolution.”
The SADC summit held in Maputo on the 18-19th of August this year resolved that, “The facilitator and the chair of the Troika must engage on the Zimbabwe issues with the three political parties to the GPA through their Presidents and Principals, namely President Robert Mugabe,(ZANU PF), Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC T) and Professor Welshman Ncube (MDC).”
Ncube says this resolution confirmed that he is a principal in the Global Political Agreement representing his party the MDC.
Meanwhile, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora refuted claims that his party conspired with ZANU PF to exclude Ncube. He said the feud between Professor Ncube and Professor Arthur Mutambara has nothing to do with the Prime Minister Tsvangirai led formation of the MDC.
Mwonzora also alleged that Ncube forfeited his opportunity to speak at the conference as a principal by snubbing. He also said the MDC did not want to see Mutambara at the conference.
“We cannot exclude anyone from visiting any place in Zimbabwe especially if that person is a deputy prime minister,” Mwonzora said, “It’s not our problem to solve the feud between Ncube and Mutambara.”
The MDC later rejoined the other delegates at the conference for thematic discussions.
The 2nd All Stakeholders Conference is expected to run from the 21st to the 23rd of October.
Douglas Mwonzora interview
[podcast]http://www.radiodialogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Mwonzora-on-boycott.mp3[/podcast]Kurauone Chihwayi interview
[podcast]http://www.radiodialogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Chihwayi-on-boycott.mp3[/podcast]
