The saga surrounding the re-appointment of Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri is expected to take centre stage again when the principals in the inclusive government meet today.
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will be holding their second meeting inside a week to discuss Chihuris contract.
The two met last Monday before they were joined by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Wednesday.
After the last meeting, Tsvangirai and Mutambara held a Press conference where they claimed they had reached an agreement that Chihuri was working in an acting capacity.
But Mugabes spokesperson George Charamba poured cold water over the statements, saying Chihuris contract had been extended to 2014.
Tsvangirais spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka confirmed the meeting was on today and Chihuris contract was likely to be on the agenda.
The meeting is there tomorrow (this) afternoon and a lot of issues will be discussed, he said.
However, Charamba insisted the meeting was routine and that Chihuris contract was no longer an issue. Its a routine meeting and its going on. Like I always say, the meeting will always take part every Monday, Charamba said.
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Asked whether the principals would discuss Chihuri, Charamba said: The issue to us is a closed chapter. Tsvangirai has accused Mugabe of unilaterally appointing and reappointing senior government officials without consulting him as per provisions of the Global Political Agreement.
Political analyst and constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku said it had now become apparent Tsvangirai did not have the executive powers that he purports to possess.
This is what we have always seen with the inclusive government.
The reality is that power resides with the President, but the other players in the inclusive government will always want to pretend that they also have some power, some responsibility, and this is what keeps creating this circus, Madhuku told a news website. If he is reappointed, this will be the 14th time that Chihuris contract has been renewed since his first term expired in 1997.
Chihuri took over as acting commissioner from Henry Mukurazhizha in 1991 before assuming the position on a full-time basis in 1993.
He is accused of being partisan by political parties who say he is compromised by his closeness to Zanu PF.
