Mutambara interdict sent to principals

Prime Minister Morgan Tsva-ngirai and South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma that Prof Arthur Mutambara is no longer their party principal.
MDC recently obtained an interdict at the Bulawayo High Court barring Prof Mutambara from exercising any functions vested in the office of the party president.
The party yesterday said it had furnished this document to Zanu-PF, MDC-T and South African leaders and advised them that he no longer represented MDC as a party principal.
However, legal experts said the interdict did not stop Prof Mutambara from holding meetings with other principals in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister in the inclusive Government.
President Zuma’s facilitation team met the parties’ negotiators separately yesterday.
South Africa is the Sadc-appointed facilitator in Zimbabwe’s inter-party talks.
It is understood they met Prof Muta-mbara on Wednesday.
While Prof Mutambara’s status featured prominently in discussions with Prof Ncube’s party, the general focus was on a roadmap for elections ex- pected later this year.
“They were basically dealing with the so-called election roadmap and the-se were just consultations,” a source said.
The facilitators also met Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee officials.
Zanu-PF was represented by Cdes Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Go-che. Prof Ncube, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu also held discussions with the facilitation team.
The team also met MDC-T’s Mr Elton Mangoma and Mr Nelson Chamisa.
Yesterday ,Mrs Misihairabwi-Mu-
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shonga told the media in Harare they had furnished President Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai, President Zuma and the facilitation team with a copy of the court ruling stopping Prof Mutambara from presenting himself as MDC president.
“We have also sent that interdict to President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. They should not have any meeting with Prof Mutambara,” Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga said.
She said they had also discussed an election roadmap and implementation of the Global Political Agreement among other things.
Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the court interdict did not in anyway interfere with Prof Mutambara’s duties as DPM.
“Being the DPM and being an MDC president are two different things.
“When they are in Government they do not act as Zanu-PF, MDC-T or MDC but as President, PM and DPM. They are officers of State,” said Prof Madhuku.
He said Prof Mutambara would not be in contempt of court if he attended a meeting of the principals because he is still DPM.
A retired judge, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed the same sentiments.
“It does not affect his position as the DPM.”
MDC spokesperson Mr Chamisa said the meeting with the facilitators had focused on conditions for elections and “the political situation in the country particularly the issue of violence”.