ZIMBABWE — Leader of the smaller MDC faction Arthur Mutambara has been offered the position of deputy prime minister by Robert Mugabe and believes that to be his glorious opportunity for entering the corridors of power to the extent that Mutambara has agreed to join Mugabe in his imaginary wars against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the west.

 

Zimdaily has obtained information that has for a couple of weeks been kept in secrecy since President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa failed to have a deal signed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara to find a political settlement.

 

 

Mutambara, we have established, has negotiated and struck a deal with Mugabe behind Tsvangirai's back.

 

Part of the deal is that the former student leader was guaranteed by Mugabe the position of deputy prime minister as well as appointment into parliament of his faction's secretary general Welshman Ncube and his deputy, Priscilla Mishairabwi Mushonga.

In return, the Mutambara faction pledged to support Mugabe's proposed power structure that effectively puts Tsvangirai into a merely ceremonial position of prime minister.

 

In addition, Mutambara was also hired by Mugabe to join and help him in taking an anti-Tsvangirai and anti-west stance characterised by lashing out at the aged dictator's perceived enemies.

 

Mutambara has already embarked on that mission and lately been on a warpath against the west as well as taking every opportunity to demean the person and leadership of Tsvangirai.

 

"The issue here is that Mutambara finds this to be his great opportunity to enter the corridors of power through the back door.

 

Mugabe offered him the position of deputy prime minister in return for support of his policies and proposed power sharing arrangement which Tsvangirai has been rejecting," an official directly involved in the talks efforts stated.

 

Zimdaily confirmed through a top source, whose identity we cannot reveal, that the proposed power structure that Tsvangirai has been refusing to sign has Mutambara as the deputy prime minister, with of course Tsvangirai as the prime minister but both reporting to Mugabe.

Through Zimdaily investigations, it has been established that Mutambara and Mugabe held several private meetings at State House before the talks commenced also even during the course of meetings that were being chaired by Mbeki in South Africa and here in Harare, much to the chagrin of some members of Mutambara's faction.

 

One of them said, "We started raising eyebrows when we learnt that Mutambara was holding secret meetings with Mugabe and things got worse when he made statements that seemed to support the Zanu (PF) politics and international stance."

 

Top intelligence sources revealed information about Mutambara's meetings with Mugabe. "They have been holding private meetings and seem to be in agreement over a number of issues.

 

Mutambara has actually become a regular guest at State House," a source said.

Repeated efforts to obtain comment from Mutambara failed but Ncube dismissed the allegations that his boss has aligned himself with Mugabe.

 

"That is not true, we are still a party with its own position and policies," he briefly said when contacted for comment.

 

Now a regular feature in the state media occasionally getting glowing coverage, Mutambara shocked many when he lashed out at the west in his Heroes Day message in which he accused the west of causing the problems in Zimbabwe.

 

He has also been castigating Tsvangirai for refusing to sign the deal that retains executive powers with Mugabe.

 

Got a story, opinion or want your letter published, please e-mail Editor at editor@zimdaily.com