Welshman Ncube engages ‘Plan B’ after DPM snub

Standard

Sunday, 29 May 2011

By Nqaba Matshazi

SADDLED with various court cases and a potentially strength sapping wrangle over the deputy premiership, Welshman Ncube, leader of an MDC faction, has refused to back down, rolling out an elaborate campaign plan.

Since being elected to lead his party, Ncube was frustrated by President Robert Mugabe, who declined to swear him in on the basis of a court action taken by former party leader, Arthur Mutambara and his supporters.

Now there are reports that Mutambara has allegedly tried to get party members to ditch the law professor by offering positions in cabinet.

Reports filtering in are that Mutambara offered Siyabonga Ncube, an Insiza legislator, the ministerial position to take over either Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s position as Regional Intergration minister, or the Industry and Trade Ministry held by Ncube. The offer was turned down.

Thandeko Mnkandla from Gwanda was reportedly offered David Coltart’s position as Education minister, while it was not clear which position Maxwell Dube of Tsholotsho South had been offered.

“Mutambara cannot do that,” an insider said. “If he does he will be in contravention of a court order.”

The MDC sought a court order barring Mutambara from acting as the party’s president.

But secretary general, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said Mutambara and his supporters were looking for relevance.

“They have lost relevance; they think the only way they can be relevant is when they comment about us or when we say something about them,” she said.

She said that Mutambara had no locus standi to hire or fire anyone and any decision he took would be in contempt of court.

So far MDC has held about 19 rallies, as the party seeks to woo supporters ahead of an election, whose date remains a mystery to the country.

“We are showing our supporters that our attention has not been diverted by these issues,” she said. “We want to show that we are different from other parties and we are the best alternative.”

The Regional and Integration minister said there were attempts to destroy the party, which started as the party was about to hold its congress in January, saying these attacks were still ongoing.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the attacks on her party were red herrings meant to distract them and destroy MDC.

Without naming anyone, she said there were some individuals within the party who, six months ago, did not have a penny to their names, but all of a sudden could now afford to institute lawsuits.

“We are still alive and that’s the message we are taking to our supporters,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga said.

But critics of the party accuse it of being a regional project since most of its rallies have been held in Matabeleland, an accusation which Misihairabwi-Mushonga curtly dismisses.

Rallies have been held mainly in Bulawayo and Matabeleland South, while others have been held in Midlands and another in Chitungwiza.

“This is where most of our MPs (Members of Parliament) are, so we start there going to other places,” she said.

The MDC secretary general said Mugabe held most of his rallies and meetings in Mashonaland but no one had ever accused him of being a regional leader, the same with Tsvangirai.

A party member revealed that some of their rallies in Mutoko and Chikomba had been cancelled amid claims that all community halls in those areas had been booked in advance by Zanu PF.