African leaders and dignitaries, among them chairman of the Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping, will witness Mugabe, main opposition MDC party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC breakaway faction leader Arthur Mutambara sign the deal to form a government of national unity.
The power-sharing brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki last Thursday received a major boost at the weekend when Mugabe’s ZANU PF and Tsvangirai’s MDC parties announced they backed the pact entered into by their leaders.
I can confirm that the ZANU PF politburo endorsed the agreement reached on Thursday, party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa told ZimOnline on Sunday.
MDC director of information Luke Tamborinyoka said in a statement that the party’s national executive council had endorsed the agreement arrived at the inter-party talks and (had empowered) the negotiating team to hammer out the finer details of the agreement such as the issue of governors and other portfolios of government.
But many on Harare’s streets remained immensely skeptical that the deal clinched after seven weeks of tortuous negotiations can stand the strain, especially given the well-known personal animosity and mistrust among the political parties and their leaders.
That strain that could yet unravel Zimbabwe’s deal was evident early on at the weekend as Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara reportedly spent much of Saturday and Sunday arguing – apparently without reaching final agreement – over how to share ministries in the new government.
According to the deal, the new government will have 31 members, 16 from the combined opposition and 15 from Mugabe’s party.
Tsvangirai, who is prime minister in the new government, was said to be demanding the ministries of Justice, Home Affairs, Local Government, Foreign Affairs and Finance, which would leave his MDC in charge of virtually all the critical departments of government with the exception of defence.
Mugabe, who as president will be commander of the armed forces, was said to be resisting the opposition demands for the five top government ministries wishing that they be spread among all three parties.
The veteran leader was also said to be dragging his feet on dismissing governors of the country’s 10 provinces to allow for the appointment of new ones who would include some nominated by the opposition.
The signing ceremony may have to be delayed unless we get what we want, said a source who is a Member of Parliament for the MDC.
Mutasa conceded that final agreement on the spread of ministries was yet to be reached but said there was still time for this to be done between Sunday and Monday, emphasising the power-sharing deal would be signed on Monday without fail.
Cabinet has been concluded in terms of numbers but the actual spread of ministries to the parties is to be decided latter, he said. Â
In broad terms, the deal envisages Mugabe retaining control of the army and that he chairs Cabinet meetings, a scenario that leaves the 84-year old leader with significant authority but substantially less than the wide-sweeping power he currently enjoys.
Tsvangirai in the new role of prime minister will chair a new Council of Ministers that will assist him run the day-to-day business of government. The opposition leader will enjoy substantial but not absolute power.
– ZimOnline
Post published in: News