PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has appointed three non-constituency members into the Upper House (The Senate) and eight Provincial Governors and these were sworn in this morning according to a statement issued by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.
Vice President Joseph Msika, former Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa and former Speaker of Parliament, John Nkomo were appointed as non-constituency senators.
The Resident Ministers (and Provincial Governors) appointed are Former Bindura mayor Advocate Martin Dinha (Mashonaland Central) replacing Ephraim Masawi as Resident Minister, former education minister Aeneas Chigwedere (Mashonaland East) replacing Ray Kaukonde as Resident Minister.
Christopher Mushohwe, the former Minister of Transport and Communications, is now the Resident Minister and Governor for Manicaland Province, succeeding Tinaye Chigudu and the new Resident Minister and Governor for Mashonaland West Province is Faber Chidarikire, who replaces Nelson Samkange, the MP-elect for Zvimba West.
President Mugabe still has to make appointments for the Midlands and Masvingo provinces.
The MDC has criticized President Mugabe for making the appointments during the all-party talks saying they will threaten the progress and spirit of negotiations.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the appointments were in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three main parties stating that such appointments should not be made before the talks are concluded.
“Clearly they have chosen the path of arrogance, unilateralism that's a serious blow to confidence building in the talks,” said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
Chamisa also criticized the arrest of the two MDC-T members as they entered the parliamentary building, but confirmed that all MDC members elected to parliament were expected to attend "except those few MPs who are still in hiding."
The swearing in and appointment of Senators was criticized by the MDC-T party although they have attended the ceremony.
Secretary General of the MDC-T party, Tendai Biti on Monday last week warned against convening of parliament saying President Mugabe will be breaching the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations setting down rules for the tripartite talks.
Section 9 of the MoU stipulates that the parties to the unity talks should not convene parliament or form a new government “save by consensus.” It says: “The Parties shall not, during the subsistence of the Dialogue, take any decisions or measures that have a bearing on the agenda of the Dialogue save by consensus. Such decisions or measures include, but are not limited to the convening of Parliament or the formation of a new government.”
Said Biti: “We hope that no one would do anything to breach the Memorandum of Understanding on the talks.”
Summarised list of appointments so far:
Non-constituency senators
Vice President Joseph Msika,
Former Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa
Speaker of Parliament, John Nkomo
Resident Ministers/Provincial Governors
Chris Mushowe - Manicaland
Fabber Chidarikire – Mashonaland West
Angeline Masuku – Matabeleland South
Aneas Chigwedere- Mashonaland East
Thokozile Mathuthu – Matabeleland North
Cain Mathema – Bulawayo Metropolitan Province
David Karimanzira- Harare Metropolitan Province
