DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said comments by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband regarding sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are characteristic of the “type of un-strategic” thinking in the West which is undermining the country’s formal opposition.

The opposition hierarchy is understood to be privately livid with Miliband over the unguarded slip as it battles to contain the fall-out.

Speaking in the Swiss ski resort of Davos where he is attending the annual World Economic Forum, Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara said Miliband’s statements showed that western leaders would do well if they “speak less and listen more”.

“It’s an example of how Western leaders can be very un-strategic. We know they mean well, we know they support the people of Zimbabwe but when they make such statements they are completely undermining our bargaining power as the formal opposition.

“So it’s very unfortunate and very ignorant for him to stay that. We are saying to these western leaders please can you be strategic for this challenge; can you talk to us before you make these unreasonable and meaningless statements because you are undermining Mr Tsvangirai; you are undermining all of us in this inclusive government,” he said.

Mutambara, who leads the smaller faction of the MDC, reiterated that given the progress the country’s inclusive government has made since coming into office sanctions were “no longer necessary”.

“We want targeted sanctions against the 40 corporations in our country removed. We want targeted sanctions against individuals to be removed. What we are saying is that, because we as Zimbabweans have made a decision to work together any sanctions don’t make any sense at all.

“It’s a new day in our country. Zimbabweans … are trying to work out an arrangement to create a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country … we want the international community to support our efforts and we do not support any sanctions at all against our own people,” he said.

The UK foreign secretary recently indicated to the House of Commons that European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe would “above all” be lifted on the advice of the MDC.

The remarks have been seized upon by Zanu PF, which blames the sanctions for the country’s economic collapse, and has all along accused the MDC of complicit in their imposition.