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MDC adopt new strategy on Gono controversy
Fortune Tazvida, Nehanda Radio
May 29, 2009

http://www.nehandaradio.com/zimbabwe/economy/rbz/new-strategy290509.html

An announcement Thursday by Finance Minister Tendai Biti that cabinet had agreed to make changes to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Act, heralded possibly a shift in strategy by the MDC over the contentious issue of Gideon Gono's unilateral appointment by Mugabe.

"Cabinet has agreed to the fundamental amendments to the RBZ Act. As you know the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is still around. They will make certain recommendations to the ministry (of finance) and we will take them to cabinet," Biti told journalists.

"Nothing will distract us from that mandate. Our biggest problem is politics as they are still outstanding issues on the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The amendments to the RBZ Act are aimed at restricting the central bank to its core business," he added.

From wanting Gono sacked the murmurings from the corridors of power are that the MDC may change strategy and instead seek to neutralize Gono by clipping his wings.

The intervention of senior army chiefs and other government ministers supporting Gono has turned the issue into a power play between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

Analysts say there is no way the Zanu PF leader will now allow the MDC to win this political bout.

Sadly for the coalition government international donors reluctant to pour money in as long as Gono is at the helm will continue to see no reason to loosen their purse strings. With Gono having admitted to raiding private foreign currency accounts, there is no chance of any sane donor wanting to throw their money down the drain.

Tsvangirai is said to have told his Secretary General and Finance Minister Biti that there was no use in confronting Mugabe over Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana but his advice fell on deaf ears. Biti went on to issue a deadline over this and many other outstanding unity government issues which Tsvangirai made clear was not wise.

Given the current hullabaloo over Gono, Tsvangirai's stance that the matter should have been handled more diplomatically seems vindicated.

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