Arthur Mutambara lost favour with his legislators because he aligned himself with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to impose Paul Themba Nyathi as Speaker of Parliament rather than Gibson Sibanda or Lovemore Moyo of the Tsvangirai-faction.
Abednico Bhebhe, one of the Members of Parliament from Mutambara’s faction, said eight of the 10 legislators from the party did not want to be seen on the same side with ZANU-PF, so they bucked Mutambara by voting for Moyo.
He said the bad blood this created was exacerbated by controversial and inflammatory statements Mutambara made, including referring to United States President Barack Obama’s decision to extend sanctions on Zimbabwe as being based on ignorance and arrogance.
Mutambara is said to have irked his colleagues by referring to Mugabe as “father Africa” and the best leader Africa had ever produced.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09HARARE402, MDC-M SUSPENSIONS REVEAL SPLIT IN PARTY
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO3901
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0402/01 1341543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141543Z MAY 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4482
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2823
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2943
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1386
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2206
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2571
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2991
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5432
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2115
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000402
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR J. HARMON AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: MDC-M SUSPENSIONS REVEAL SPLIT IN PARTY
——-
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (SBU) The President of the MDC-M and Deputy Prime
Minister, Arthur Mutambara, and other top party officials
suspended six senior party members, including three MPs. The
suspensions have unearthed growing dissent within the MDC-M
about Mutambara’s leadership, which some party officials and
party supporters feel has become too pro-ZANU-PF. The
suspended officials may ultimately be expelled, which would
result in three parliamentary vacancies. However, the
displaced MPs could be expected to hold onto their seats by
running as either independents or choosing to rejoin the
ranks of the much larger MDC-T. END SUMMARY.
————————–
Suspensions Roil the MDC-M
————————–
¶2. (SBU) On May 8, the leadership of the MDC-Mutambara
faction (MDC-M) suspended six senior officials from the
party, including three sitting parliamentarians, on charges
of bringing the party into disrepute. The six officials had
been openly critical of the party’s leadership under Deputy
Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, charging him along with his
deputies Welshman Ncube and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga
of seconding the party’s interests to those of ZANU-PF and
President Mugabe. The suspended officials include, Nkayi
South MP Abednico Bhebhe, Bulilima East MP Norman Mpofu,
Lupane East MP Njabuliso Mguni, party defense secretary Job
Sikhala, youth chairman Gift Nyandoro, and Matabeleland South
treasurer Alex Goosen.
——————————————— —-
Is He Really the Best Leader Africa has Produced?
——————————————— —-
¶3. (SBU) Bhebhe met with poloff and pol specialist on May 12
and explained the origins and implications of the rift within
the MDC-M. According to Bhebhe, the issue first arose during
the selection of the Speaker of Parliament, when Mutambara
pressed MPs to support the candidacy of Paul Themba Nyathi of
the MDC-M, in lieu of either Gibson Sibanda of the MDC-M or
Lovemore Moyo of the MDC-T. Recognizing that they did not
have the votes to elect their own candidate, ZANU-PF also
backed Nyathi, but eight of the ten MDC-M MPs did not want to
be seen on the same side as ZANU-PF and bucked Mutambara by
voting for Moyo. The bad blood this created was exacerbated
by controversial and inflammatory statements by Mutambara,
including referring to President Obama’s decision to extend
sanctions as being “based on ignorance and arrogance,” saying
that “the West needs to shut up,” and most recently referring
to Mugabe as “father Africa” and “the best leader Africa has
produced.”
¶4. (SBU) Bhebhe believed that Mutambara in particular, but
also Ncube and Misihairabwi-Mushonga, had grown too close to
Mugabe and had become indirect agents of ZANU-PF. He also
described Mutambara’s leadership style as being authoritative
and reminiscent of Mugabe. While addressing several recent
Qand reminiscent of Mugabe. While addressing several recent
rallies designed to raise doubts about Mutambara’s
allegiances, Bhebhe said that people had demanded to know why
they had been told to support Mutambara if he was not going
to act as an opposition figure. Bhebhe said that many of the
MDC-M supporters he had spoken with were shocked in
particular by Mutambara’s complimenting of Mugabe.
——————–
Three Seats at Stake
HARARE 00000402 002 OF 002
——————–
¶5. (SBU) When asked what parliamentary implications the
suspensions hold for the three sitting MPs, Bhebhe explained
that there will be an inquiry held by the party’s
disciplinary committee that will likely result in a
recommendation to the MDC-M National Council to expel the six
members. If the National Council agreed with the
recommendation — as Bhebhe seemed to believe would happen —
a letter would be written to the Speaker of Parliament
stating that the three MPs were no longer members of the
MDC-M. As seats in Parliament belong to the party not
individuals, this would vacate the seats. However, according
to last September’s Inter-party Political Agreement (IPA),
within the first 12 months of the formation of a new
government the three parties agreed not to contest any
parliamentary vacancy. Bhebhe said that because the IPA was
only binding on the three signatory parties, it would not
preclude him or the other two MPs from running as
independents. He was confident that he would win a
bi-election as an independent. Alternatively, if his
expulsion occurred after February 13, 2010, he would likely
rejoin the MDC-T and run under their banner.
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶6. (SBU) Bhebhe and Sikhala are the ringleaders of a group
of MDC-M officials who have had enough of Mutambara’s
reckless and inconsistent behavior. Mutambara fluctuates
between appearing to be a determined reformer one moment, to
then ingratiating himself to Mugabe and ZANU-PF leaders the
next. While this has alienated him from much of his party,
he has emerged as a force in Cabinet and principal meetings,
largely overshadowing the other Deputy Prime Minister,
Thokozani Khupe. Because Mutambara lacks a political base —
he failed to win a seat in parliament last year — he is
trying to elevate his profile and find allies.
¶7. (SBU) Within Parliament we do not believe the shake-up
will have wide-ranging implications. If the three MDC-M MPs
are expelled, they will probably run as independents, as only
the MDC-M could challenge them within the next nine months.
Given this, it is unlikely that they would be displaced.
After nine months, they would likely be welcomed back into
the ranks of the MDC-T. END COMMENT.
MCGEE
(29 VIEWS)
