Mugabe neutralises MDC-T power base

THE MDC-T is claiming President Robert Mugabe’s appointment of Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs to govern the provinces has effectively taken away the authority of provincial council chairpersons, the only opportunity that the party had to hold power in the country’s two largest cities, Harare and Bulawayo.

After losing the presidential race and majority control in Parliament to Zanu PF, the MDC-T had hoped to salvage some semblance of power by assuming control of the capital city and the country’s second largest city.

“Mugabe seeks to cheat the Constitution by usurping the powers of the chairpersons of the provincial councils,” MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said in an interview on Wednesday, adding: “He (Mugabe) wants to bring governors via the backdoor.”

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