Mutambara MDC spokesman attends Mugabe inauguration

By Lance Guma
30 June 2008

Former Harare South MP and Mutambara MDC spokesman, Gabriel Chaibva, might have signed his own political death warrant by attending Mugabe’s inauguration on Sunday. The party reacted furiously to his presence at state house, which occurred despite a common position adopted to boycott the sham exercise. In an interview with Newsreel on Monday Chaibva confirmed he attended the ceremony but refused to explain why. ‘I am waiting for all the criticism to come in and allow myself time to absorb it before I give a comprehensive response,’ Chaibva said. Pressed on whether he attended just in his individual capacity the former legislator said he would issue a statement on Tuesday.

Chaibva however is quoted as telling ZBC Newsnet, ‘I know there will be criticism because I attended this ceremony. But in times like this it is crucial to put the past behind us and show the spirit of constructive engagement and dialogue as the only way forward. Victory is sweet and defeat is bitter, but as leaders we must learn to accept both and work for the good of the people. So in a small way, we are sending our message that it is time for a new spirit to govern the manner in which we engage each other,’ he said.

Reports indicate that Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa extended an invitation to Mutambara MDC officials Welshman Ncube, Paul Themba Nyathi, Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga, Fletcher Dulini-Ncube and Gibson Sibanda. Misihairambwi told journalists they turned down the offer, describing Mugabe’s election victory a ‘fraud.’ A similar invite was extended to Tsvangirai’s MDC, but the party also turned it down. Why the Mutambara MDC spokesman attended remains a mystery, but the move will not have helped quell speculation that Mugabe will be trying to pacify members of the party with positions in a new government.

Newsreel sought comment from party leader Arthur Mutambara, who said he was locked in meetings the whole day and would only be available for interviews Tuesday. Job Sikhala the former MP for St Mary’s, reacted furiously to some reports that implied he was also at state house on Sunday. He told Newsreel he was in Mozambique on the day and ‘certain mischievous’ elements in the media were trying to tarnish his name. Reacting to Chaibva’s attendance Sikhala said Chaibva was an adult who could make his own decisions about where to go. He did however concede it was a mistake for Chaibva to have attended Mugabe’s inauguration, and that the party would soon meet to deliberate on the matter.