The absence of President Robert Mugabe, who flew to Singapore last week for a private visit, has paralysed State operations as crucial meetings were shelved amid widening fissures in the dysfunctional inclusive government.
A Zanu PF special politburo meeting expected to chart the way forward on the constitution-making process failed to take place on Wednesday, heightening Zimbabwes anxiety on whether the former ruling party will remain in it or pull out.
With Zanu PF increasingly getting impatient with the slow pace at which the new governance charter is progressing, expectations were that the meeting would enable the party to take a position.
The party has in recent weeks indicated they have lost faith in the three constitution drafters and threatened to withdraw from the process.
Mugabes spokesperson George Charamba on Wednesday confirmed the veteran leader is yet to return, but did not say when. None other than Mugabe can chair the Politburo, the partys supreme decision-making body outside congress.
He is not yet in the country. When he arrives, we will let you know. We dont divulge the Presidents travelling arrangements for security reasons, Charamba said.
On Monday, the principals meeting between Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara failed to take place and Cabinet similary failed to convene on Tuesday. As a result, Tsvangirai attempted to convene a Council of Ministers meeting on a day traditionally meant for Cabinet and was snubbed by the Zanu PF component in government.
Cracks in government also widened yesterday after Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere issued a statement claiming the State had effectively taken over all foreign mining firms that have not complied with the indigenisation law to dispose 51% shareholding to locals.
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But, Tsvangirai said: That issue has not been discussed and agreed upon by government. The Prime Minister wishes to inform the public in general and mining firms in particular that the inclusive government has not sanctioned the ministers actions that are a threat to investment in the industry.
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