Mutambara fires Welshman Ncube ‘immediately’

IMMEDIATE EXPULSION OF PROFESSOR WELSHMAN NCUBE FROM THE MDC

1. This press statement is a follow up to the one I issued on Monday the 7th of February 2011. The meaning of the position that I took on that day needs to be explained and clearly understood.  I stated the following, among other issues, “ Until the High Court makes its ruling in this matter (legitimacy of the MDC Party meeting of 8 and 9 January 2011) 

I, Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and one of the three Signatories (Principals) to the Global Political Agreement which led to the formation of the Inclusive Government, will not recognize Professor Welshman Ncube as the President of the Party I belong to, the MDC, the Party that signed the GPA with MDC-T and ZANU-PF.

Neither will I recognize the team that he heads as the leadership of the Party, MDC.” This means that until the High Court of Zimbabwe makes a ruling on the matter, I remain the legitimate President of the MDC. The Party leadership structures, such as the National Council, National Executive, Standing Committee and Management Committee that were in place before the meeting of 8 and 9 January 2011 remain the legitimate ones. This will change if the Courts rule in favour of Prof Welshman Ncube and his team, or a legitimate National Congress is held, whichever comes first.

2. In December 2010 I indicated my intention not to stand for any leadership position at the MDC Congress, with the view to encourage Party unity and facilitate the ascendency of a new leadership. I still stand by that position.

My objective was for the Party to organize legitimate and constitutionally provided for political processes leading to a legitimate Congress, producing both a President and Party leadership who have legitimacy. This has not happened. Consequently the old executive and I have not been able to hand over power to a new legitimate leadership.  Hence, by default and circumstances that are not of my choosing, I remain the President of the MDC Party, the organization that signed the GPA with MDC-T and ZANU-PF.

3.  On the 8th of February 2011 and today I have received direct communication from Prof Welshman Ncube, and also through the media, indicating that he intends to hold an MDC National Council on the 10th of February 2011, with him as President and the rest of his team as “elected” at the meeting of 8 and 9 January 2011.

Clearly, Professor Ncube’s understanding is at variance from, and in defiance of, the one I have outlined above, as the legitimate President of the MDC. This is gross insubordination and misconduct. He has completely overthrown the MDC Party Constitution, and brought the Party into immense disrepute and disgrace. There is no sufficient time between today (9th February 2011) and tomorrow (10th February 2011) to hold a legal and legitimate National Council to address this gross misconduct by Professor Ncube.

4. Consequently, as the President of the Party, the key authority of the Party in between main Party meetings such as National Council, National Executive, and Standing Committee I have had to take drastic remedial action.  With immediate effect Prof Welshman Ncube is summarily dismissed from the MDC Party. As a non-member he has no authority to organize, participate, or speak on behalf of the Party.

We will organize a National Council meeting of the Party in accordance with our Constitution, at which meeting this decision will be ratified. I took this decision after careful consideration, thorough examination, soul-searching, analysis and consultation. Although I have been silent in public from the 8th of January 2011 to 7th February 2011, privately I have been continuously in touch with Prof Ncube, trying to encourage him to heal and reconcile the Party.

He has been doing the opposite. I have been urging him to respect the rule of law in the country, the Party’s constitution, and the country’s legal system.  He has not listened. He has left me with no choice but to take the above measure in order to salvage the image of the Party, and reestablish its dignity.

I Thank You

Professor Arthur G.O. Mutambara
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe