Financial Gazette
Thursday,22 September 2011Â
By Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor
JUSTICE and Legal Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, is allegedly critical of the Attorney General (AG)’s Office which he considers as incompetent.
Chinamasa, who was once the country’s AG before he was appointed into cabinet, also believes that it is wrong for the AG, Johannes Tomana, to align himself with ZANU-PF, according to the latest leaked United States cables.
The cable details a meeting between a US official and former deputy justice minister, Jessie Majome, of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).
Majome allegedly described Chinamasa as “frank and open” as well as a proponent of professionalism.
A commentary by the US officials added that during his time as AG, Chinamasa was regarded as a technically competent bureaucrat.
“She (Majome) also told us that Chinamasa held Tomana in low regard because of the clumsy manner and legal incompetence his office often demonstrated,” reads part of the cables.
“Similarly, Attorney General Tomana has openly told her that she is subordinate to him within the ministry because he sits in Cabinet and she does not. Tomana, according to Majome, is arrogant, has a Mercedes and a driver, travels in a two car convoy, and moves on foot with a four-person security detail.”
Majome is alleged to have indicated that at meetings, ministry officials circumvent her by, for example, failing to copy her correspondence within the ministry or notify her of any briefings.
The MDC-T official is said to have cited a press conference where the ministry’s permanent secretary, David Mangota and prisons commissioner, Paradzai Zimondi, announced a general amnesty to cover a thousand prisoners, a development she only read in the newspapers.
Majome is alleged to have added that the prisons system has become militarised, with retiring soldiers assuming jobs intended to be filled by the civilian prison service.
“This has also occurred in the AG’s office where soldiers have replaced technicians and legal aides,” Majome is alleged to have said.
In its commentary, the US embassy said: “Majome’s experience highlights the lack of cooperation occurring at the ministerial level in what purports to be an inclusive government.
“Even in instances where the ministry is led by an MDC minister, such as David Coltart’s Ministry of Education, there is often a struggle between the minister and his Mugabe-appointed permanent secretary.”
The embassy added that the cases present a tremendous hurdle in implementing policy changes that are opposed by ZANU-PF loyalists.
The balance of power within ministries was said to be in favour of ZANU-PF.