Mugabe to form government “soon”


  HARARE - Emboldened by the support from southern African leaders Robert Mugabe announced today that he would form a  government of national unity "as soon as possible".

 His representative at the power-sharing talks, Patrick Chinamasa, told state television in Harare this morning that Morgan Tsvangirai would be invited to nominate his members to the cabinet.

Asked by state television, ZTV, when a new cabinet will be announced, Mugabe said; “We will try to institute it as soon as possible.”

The 15-nation Southern African Development Community said on Sunday after an emergency summit that Zimbabwe should form a unity government immediately and Mugabe’s Zanu (PF and the MDC should share control of the disputed home affairs ministry.

But in a further sign that the September power-sharing agreement between the parties is unravelling after weeks of stalemate over who should control which ministries, Tsvangirai said he was “shocked and saddened” by the outcome of the summit.

Mugabe said on Monday he was happy with SADC’s mediation efforts.

“I think they have been persuasive this time. There is no way they can force things on parties or countries,” he said. “The decision to run a country rests on the government of that country.”

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told ZTV Mugabe would invite his foe to nominate MDC members for cabinet posts.

“President Mugabe is going to constitute an inclusive government and is going to invite Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai to proffer members of his party nominated for various posts,” Chinamasa said. “Whether Mr Tsvangirai is going to do that or not, time will tell.”

 The MDC announced this afternoon that a joint meeting of the National Council and the Executive would be held later this week to discuss the deadlock over the power-sharing deal.

It is unlikely the MDC will take up the offer of cabinet seats before the a resolution of the outstanding issues.

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