Tsvangirai Seeks Zuma's Mediation On Probable Arrest For Outburst

Recent articles on the internet suggest that Mugabe is about to have Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change arrested upon his return to Zimbabwe from South Africa where he reportedly briefed the SADC mediator on the current problems facing the Zimbabwean population.

Unilaterally Mugabe appointed Attorney General Johannes Tomana is said to have prepared the paperwork to back Tsvangirai's arrest.

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The Southern African Development Community, the supposed guarantors of the power-sharing agreement between Mugabe's ZANU PF party and the two factions of the MDC headed by Tsvangirai and the newly crowned President of the smaller faction, Welshman Ncube (who is still in bitter conflict with the previous leader, Arthur Mutambara) have now warned Tsvangirai that he may be held accountable for his outburst a couple of weeks ago.

"Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's thinly veiled retraction of his statement attacking the judiciary came after western diplomats and regional leaders warned him that he was indeed in contempt of court, the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt.

Tsvangirai criticised Supreme Court judges for overturning a high court judgement reinstating the MDC-T Speaker of parliament, Lovemore Moyo and called them "ZANU PF politicians masquerading as judges".

Tsvangirai - who had initially refused to withdraw his comments and threatened to withdraw from the inclusive Government said his misguided statements were "spontaneous statements made in anger" after the Supreme Court ruling nullifying the election of Moyo, as Speaker of the House of Assembly.

"The comments were not meant to undermine the judiciary and should not be taken out of context," read part of his statement, although he did not indicate what new "context" he was referring to.

An official in the MDC-T who requested anonymity told the Zimbabwe Guardian Monday that Tsvangirai had been warned by Ian Khama that his statement was illegal and he had to retract it.

"Prime Minister was warned that his statement undermined the judiciary and it was wise for him to quickly retract it before charges are levelled against him," said our source.

"The retraction came after that meeting, where they discussed many other issues concerning the progress made by the inclusive Government."

Mugabe and his fractious party don't need to be asked twice when an opportunity to harass and hassle the Prime Minister and his party...

ZANU PF ensure that their presence in all strata of the community throughout the country felt, and registered. The leader of the larger faction of the MDC doesn't even have to be in the country for the threat to be felt.

Tsvangirai was in South Africa to meet Jacob Zuma, although an update will not cause any action by anyone to assist in putting down the pro-ZANU PF activity in Zimbabwe.

Zuma is a known supporter of Robert Mugabe – just as his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, gave Mugabe room to manoeuvre by exercising 'quiet diplomacy' – and very little positive will come of the briefing – bar Zuma being aware that Mugabe's subterfuge is working.

"Tsvangirai was also warned by western diplomats whom he met privately after his trip to the region who "told him in no uncertain terms that undermining the judiciary would come at a price for the MDC," added our source.

It is not clear which western diplomat(s) warned the PM, but he is reported to have met secretly with the French and British ambassadors last week.

The official also told us that Tsvangirai had sought South African President Jacob Zuma's private mediation to avoid being arrested for contempt of court charges, when it became clear that the Attorney General was preparing papers for his arrest.”

Tsvangirai has issued an apology, but no official apology has been lodged with the Supreme Court in Zimbabwe.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man