The Insider

Shuvai Mahofa, one of the heavyweights in the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front Women’s League, claimed she had lost a hotly contested election to head the league to Women’s Affairs Minister Olivia Muchena in September 2009 because of vote rigging.

(51 VIEWS)

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said one of the major problems in trying to regularise the situation at the Chiadzwa diamond fields was that Mines Minister Obert Mpofu was corrupt.

(126 VIEWS)

The Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo told diplomats in June 2009 that the constitution making process was on track and should be completed in 18 months but the budget of US$19 million was being reviewed.

(57 VIEWS)

Priorities for the Movement for Democratic Change and civil society were the repeal of or amendment of the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act but the responsible ministries, Justice and Information were headed by ZANU-PF stalwarts Patrick Chinamasa and Webster Shamu and they were not interested in reform.

(58 VIEWS)

Finance Minister Tendai Biti told former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee, less than three months after getting into office, that the issue of central bank governor Gideon Gono-which has been touted as one of the burning issues within the Global Political Agreement- was merely academic.

(123 VIEWS)

Former South African President Nelson Mandela is reported to have met President Robert Mugabe on 23 October 2006 to encourage him to retire.

(62 VIEWS)

Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata would take measures to strengthen the power of the executive if he was elected president and would not be above imposing martial law to ensure that he had absolute power.

(71 VIEWS)

Vice-President Joice Mujuru sided with the Movement for Democratic Change to oppose continued farm evictions in what former Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Gorden Moyo said was a “fiery” debate in cabinet.

(115 VIEWS)

Former Minister for Economic Planning Elton Mangoma said Finance Minister Tendai Biti “cooked” his first budget with President Robert Mugabe who then at the cabinet meeting asserted his authority with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front ministers.

(65 VIEWS)

The leader of the pro-senate faction of the Movement for Democratic Change Arthur Mutambara told United States embassy officials that President Robert Mugabe could be beaten in the 2008 elections and it was up to the democratic opposition to unite around a single candidate who could provide a strong challenge.

(118 VIEWS)