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NewsDay

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New twist to Chihuri saga

News
Confusion is swirling over the status of Police Commissioner-General amid incompatible reports by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara claiming the police chief had been re-appointed in an acting capacity. President Robert Mugabes spokesperson George Charamba yesterday insisted the President had extended Chihuris contract to 2014, a day after the principals in […]

Confusion is swirling over the status of Police Commissioner-General amid incompatible reports by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara claiming the police chief had been re-appointed in an acting capacity.

President Robert Mugabes spokesperson George Charamba yesterday insisted the President had extended Chihuris contract to 2014, a day after the principals in the unstable inclusive government had reportedly agreed the top cop was only working in an acting capacity.

Tsvangirai and Mutambara on Wednesday told journalists after meeting Mugabe that they had agreed on the need to follow the Constitution in re-appointing Chihuri.

Chihuris contract expired on January 31 and Zanu PFs coalition partners have been arguing the veteran ruler could not decide Chihuris future on his own. Tsvangirai and Mutambara said Mugabe had accepted the Police Service Commission must be regularised first to recommend candidates for the top police post.

But, Charamba in an interview with our sister publication the Zimbabwe Independent poured cold water over the alleged deal that would have seen the dysfunctional government singing from the same hymn book.

There is a commission that is in place and that commission made recommendations. There is no service chief who stays a day longer without a contract, so that was not an issue when the President met the Prime Minister and his deputy, Charamba said.

What is at issue was the plea by the Prime Minister and his deputy for inclusion, so that in the eyes of their constituencies they are respected. That was resolved; the President is a politician and understood their position.That (Chihuris contract) is not an issue anymore because the contract was renewed.

You cant have a service chief staying a day longer than his contract says he should. How then does he take instructions from the President if has no contract? His contract was renewed when it was due.

Asked to confirm that the contract was renewed to 2014, Charamba said: Yes, 2014 it would be. Meanwhile, the Welshman Ncube-led MDC has said it will not recognise Chihuris re-appointment in whatever capacity because Tsvangirai, Mugabe and Mutambara had not consulted its leader.

MDC secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga described the decision to allow Chihuri to remain in office as null and void. As far as we are concerned that was not a principals position, she said.

As long as we have not been invited for a proper principals forum, we will not talk about that issue. Our president (Ncube) has been clear on our position on Chihuri, she added.

When President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai feel that they want a principals forum, they will call a principals forum. But, if they want to continue with the joke of someone (Mutambara) who doesnt even have a party, so be it.

Ncube and Mutambara are locked in a legal wrangle over the MDC leadership.

The MDC argues the robotics professor must stop masquerading as a principal in the inclusive government after he lost the leadership of the MDC last year.

Charamba said he understood why the MDC did not recognise outcomes of meetings between Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara.

They are correct because they cannot be bound by a decision made in their absence, he said.

This has to do with leadership problems in their party. It has to be dealt with at the level of principals. I understand why they are angry.