Tsvangirai meets Zuma over Zimbabwe ‘coup’

Headlines, News — By on March 28, 2011 12:18 am

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday met South African President Jacob Zuma amid rising tensions within a shaky coalition government he formed with the man he defeated in the March 2008 election, Robert Mugabe.

Zuma with Tsvangirai

Zuma’s spokesman Zizi Kodwa said Tsvangirai was “bringing him up to speed with all the issues and whether the global political agreement is being implemented. The meeting was in that context.”

Tsvangirai visited Zuma at his homestead in Nkandla village in KwaZulu Natal during the traditional ceremony for his son’s engagement.

The trip is part of a diplomatic offensive ahead of the SADC Troika Organ on Politics, Defence and Security meeting in Zambia. The MDC leader has also been to Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana as part of regional tour.

The arbitrary arrest of MDC-T MP’s, including Energy Minister Elton Mangoma, and state sponsored violence and intimidation targeting MDC-T supporters have all heightened tensions between the parties in the coalition.

Tsvangirai believes “the civilian authority is no longer in charge and dark and sinister forces have engaged in a hostile take-over of running the affairs of the country.’ Even the Co-Home Affairs Minister from his party Theresa Makone was said to be hiding over the weekend fearing arrest by her juniors.

A cabinet minister in the smaller MDC faction, Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga, claims a ‘smart coup’ has taken place. It’s widely believed Defence Minister Emerson Mnangagwa is now calling the shots with Mugabe effectively now just a figurehead. Nehanda Radio.com

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