26 November 2009

Harare — Vice-President Joice Mujuru on Tuesday lambasted Finance minister Tendai Biti over the contentious handling of the over US$500 million facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in what officials this week said was the most dramatic high-profile clash within the inclusive government since its formation in February.

The stormy showdown between Mujuru and Biti -- which was followed by some reconciliation -- is said to have left President Robert Mugabe and ministers shell-shocked because of its emotional intensity and ferocity.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who has mutual respect with Mujuru, was not at the meeting because his flight from South Africa had to return to base in Johannesburg after experiencing a serious technical problem airborne in Zimbabwean airspace.

Sources said Mujuru fired brickbats at Biti at the meeting chaired by Mugabe, accusing him of stalling the disbursement of the IMF advance and in the process disrupting the purchase of agricultural inputs for the farming season.

Biti has also been fighting with Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono over control of the financial levers of the state and the same money. The minister says he wants to channel part of the funds towards budgetary support, while Gono says it has to go directly to certain sectors of the economy.

"There was blood on the floor at our meeting on Tuesday. Mujuru attacked Biti in the most unprecedented way over the IMF funds and all ministers were shaken by her angry attacks," a senior government minister said. "We have never seen that before and up to now most of us are still in a state of disbelief."

A source familiar with the incident said Mujuru "took no prisoners" in her assault on Biti who was said to have restrained himself by not showing his characteristic aggression during the encounter.

Biti is said to have contained the situation by reacting in a relatively calm manner. It is said the minister tried to ward off the assaults by offering an explanation and pleading for protection from Mugabe. The source said Mugabe did not intervene and remained subdued as he was also stunned by his deputy's uncontrollable rage.

"The attack astonished everyone. Mujuru was up in arms, but Biti did not aggressively fight back," the source said. "He was agitated but largely managed to remain unruffled by the incident."

Biti is said to have tried to explain that the money had not yet been utilised because it was in the form of special drawing rights (SDRs) which needed to be converted into hard currency before use. Mujuru is said to have retorted that those SDRs must be quickly converted to buy inputs for farmers and finance other government projects and programmes.

An informed source said had it not been for Biti's respect for Mujuru, the incident could have degenerated into chaotic scenes.

"We feared Biti would walk out but he surprisingly managed to remain cool, calm and collected. He behaved very well," the source said.

It is said Biti did not take Mujuru's outburst personally and managed to reconcile with her after the meeting.

A top Zanu PF official said while Mujuru wanted the money for farmers, she also wanted to "project power" after her recent crushing victory over her opponents within her party ahead of their congress next month.

"She wants the farmers to get money but I think it was an attempt to show political muscle. It was an attempt to show that she is leadership material and display power and authority," the official said.

Although there have been many clashes in the inclusive government between top political leaders and ministers, sources said Tuesday's confrontation stood out as the most fierce.

After the stormy meeting, Mugabe called another gathering on Tuesday afternoon between Mujuru, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, Biti, Gono and himself in a bid to manage the fallout by addressing the issue of the dispute over IMF funds.


Tsvangirai did not attend the meeting although at that time he had managed to catch another flight back home. The prime minister was returning from visits to Morocco and Libya during the weekend.

Sources said shortly before the second Tuesday meeting, Mujuru and Biti managed to talk and reconcile "like mother and son". "There was no bitterness afterwards," a source said. "It was like a fight between mother and son."

After the second meeting chaired by Mugabe on Tuesday, Biti and Gono were directed to sort out the issue.

Mujuru and Biti also came face to face yesterday during a meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs chaired by Mugabe where Biti presented his "budget assumptions" before he could take his blueprint to cabinet on Tuesday next week. After that Biti will present his first budget on December 2.

allafrica