Tsvangirai plans to give control of RBZ to Germans

Herald Reporter (07/04/08)

OPPOSITION leader Morgan Tsvangirai intends to give control of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to German agents for up to one year in the event that he becomes State President.

He also plans to change commanders of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Commissioner-General of Police, Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation, the Chief Justice and Permanent Secretary for Finance, among other high-ranking officials.

According to sources in Tsvangirai’s inner circle, the faction leader’s transitional plan includes a restructuring of the RBZ that will see at least two agents from Germany’s central bank playing key roles at the institution.

The delivery of the central bank to the Germans will be among Tsvangirai’s first directives in the event that he becomes President.

Under the scheme, Tsvangirai will first relieve present Governor Dr Gideon Gono of his duties, appoint one of his deputies as acting boss and rope in the Germans to "advise" him.

"The Reserve Bank is a critical institution and monetary and fiscal stability simply cannot be left unattended and a start must be made immediately to direct policy.

"As an interim measure, Tsvangirai will appoint one of the deputy governors as Acting Governor and then bring in two specialists from the German central bank who must be put on standby this week as we await the final results of the presidential election.

"It has been suggested that the German ambassador here be formally apprised of this policy position so that the two individuals can be promptly selected and be put on standby to come to Zimbabwe on 48 hours’ notice," a source said.

"One of these individuals selected from the German central bank will be assigned to supervise a committee on monetary and fiscal matters and the other will help with the supervision of the banking system. They will report to the Acting Governor pending the appointment of a new governor and new board for the bank.

"The two German specialists will be available for six months, with the possibility of a further extension of another six months if required," the source added.

The faction will also change the leadership of the security forces.

"A new commander for the Army, Air Force and a new Director-General of the CIO and new Commissioner-General of Police will be selected for appointment on an acting basis. They would remain in place on an acting basis until the President makes their appointments or the appointment of a substantive individual to these posts," the source said.

The current Chief Justice, the source said, would be relieved of his duties once he has sworn in Tsvangirai as President.

"It is clear that the present Chief Justice must go and he

will expect that — after he has conducted the swearing-in ceremony at State House he should be told to clear his desk and leave his office."

Questions sent to the German Embassy in Harare with regard to the central bank experts had not been responded to at the time of writing.

MDC Tsvangirai spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the faction had a transitional plan, which it would unveil at an appropriate time.

He, however, said the plan was different from what The Herald had heard.