Angry Biti, Mugabe clash

Finance Minister Tendai Biti ruffled President Robert Mugabe's feathers on
Friday at a tense National Security Council meeting - attended by
politicians and state security chiefs - when he confronted him over remarks
he made about him at a rally the previous day.


This is the latest clash between Mugabe and Biti as tensions rise within the
shaky inclusive government.

Insiders said Biti confronted Mugabe and asked him why he lambasted him at a
rally with traditional leaders in Manicaland province on Thursday, claiming
he had tried to usurp presidential powers.

Mugabe was said to have angrily mumbled something back before state security
service chiefs came to his rescue.

"Biti asked Mugabe why he was attacking him at the meeting with the chiefs.
The president just furiously mumbled back something before state security
service chiefs intervened with complaints that the minister was being
disrespectful," said a senior government official who attended the meeting.

"Biti was annoyed by Mugabe's remarks and he wanted to get even at the
meeting."

Mugabe told the rally that Biti had been trying to grab his powers through
the back door, apparently referring to the amendment of the Exchange Control
Act. Although this was done last year, Mugabe was clearly still harbouring a
grudge against Biti.

In December, Biti was stopped by Zanu-PF lawmakers from amending the act
during the national budget, who claimed that he was plotting to usurp "the
president's powers conferred to him by the law".

"Biti is even trying to grab some presidential powers in various ways,"
Mugabe said. "We now want this Global Political Agreement to end and this
should happen this year."

Mugabe has never hidden his discomfort with the inclusive government, in
which he is constantly challenged and exposed over many issues by officials
of the MDC factions.

He is demanding elections this year to end the coalition government, but he
is facing stiff resistance from the MDC officials, who say the conditions
for free and fair elections must be created first.

Another government official said Mugabe's fight with Biti showed the growing
hostility between state security service chiefs and the MDC officials.

"After Biti's question directed at Mugabe, (Zimbabwe Defence Forces
Commander General Constantine) Chiwenga and (Police Commissioner General
Augustine) Chihuri intervened and engaged Tsvangirai and (Co-Home Affairs
Minister Theresa) Makone in protest," the official said. "They said Biti was
being disrespectful."

Mugabe chairs the NSC, which is also attended by vice-presidents Joyce
Mujuru and John Nkomo, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputies
Thokozani Khupe and Arthur Mutambara and Defence Minister Emmerson
Mnangagwa, among others.

In a new twist to the succession saga, Chiwenga is said to be interested in
taking over from Mugabe. Last week one of Mugabe's loyalists,
Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, said the army wanted the Zanu-PF
chief to be president for life and they would never acknowledge Tsvangirai
even if he won the elections.

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