Arthur Mutambara 'compromised by Zanu-PF' says Biti

DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has been "compromised by Zanu-PF" and has no legitimate claim to the MDC presidency, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said on Wednesday.

Biti, who is secretary general of the MDC faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has publicly weighed in on Mutambara's bid to reprise the leadership of the MDC party now led by Industry Minister Welshman Ncube.

"Welshman Ncube was elected by congress… Mutambara did not even challenge him," Biti told the Voice of America's Studio 7.

"I saw a video where Mutambara was congratulating Ncube. I'm very concerned about that issue as an individual because this generation can't do things that Zanu-PF were doing. Even Robert Mugabe strives to have legitimacy.

"Now you can't say when you have not even participated in an election you call yourself the president of the party, that doesn't happen."

Ncube was elected MDC president at a congress in Bulawayo in January 2011, with Mutambara in attendance but not on the ballot.

The robotics professor later claimed Ncube had breached party procedures to ascend to the leadership. He challenged his election at the High Court and lost, but has since appealed to the Supreme Court.

Through the appeal, Mutambara has used the court system to prolong his stay as deputy premier, helped in no small measure by President Robert Mugabe who has used him as a political stick with which to beat Ncube.

South African President Jacob Zuma, mediating between Zimbabwe's coalition leaders ahead of elections expected next year, last week decided Mutambara lacked legitimacy to be consulted. The decision was later supported by regional leaders at a summit held in Maputo, Mozambique.

But Mutambara came out guns blazing, accusing Zuma - whose daughter is married to Ncube's son - of anointing the law professor a principal in the coalition government, simply because he was his in-law.

Biti said: "That is rubbish. Zuma was not at the congress of MDC-M in January of last year. He wasn't there. He wasn't the one who chose Ncube. So that is absolutely rubbish.

"I think the energy with which Zanu-PF is defending Mutambara proves beyond reasonable doubt that Mutambara has been compromised by Zanu-PF. Once you are now being defended by the likes of Jonathan Moyo you must know that you are finished."

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