Speaking in the capital, Harare, after he announced his ministerial
nominees to a government of national unity, Tsvangirai said most of the
issues that had stalled a power-sharing administration were being
finalised.
MDC demands ahead of the formation of a new government included the following:
– Fair distribution of provincial governors
– Release of journalists and human rights activists detained on allegations of banditry
– Equitable distribution of key ministries
– Enactment of the National Security Council Law to replace the military-dominated Joint Operations Command
– Effect Constitutional Amendment 19, legalising Tsvangirai’s appointment
– Review the appointments of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor and the attorney general.
Tsvangirai said out of the 10 provincial governors, his party would be
awarded five, based on the provinces where MDC registered a majority in
the March 2008 elections.
"We are going to get five governors out of all the 10 and the issue is
just being finalised. On the issue of detained activists, we are
working very hard to ensure that they are released before the swearing
into office, Tsvangirai said.
Parliament has already passed Constitutional Amendment 19, which awaits
the signature of Mugabe, while the National Security Council Bill is
before parliament. Tsvangirai will become a member of the council,
which will oversee the operations of security forces that over the
years have been accused of terrorising opposition supporters.
However, Mugabe has refused to yield on his control of the key
ministries of defence, justice, foreign affairs, information and local
government. He said outstanding issues like the appointments of the RBZ
governor and attorney general would be discussed when the MDC is in
government.
Among Tsvangirai's cabinet nominees is MDC secretary-general Tendai
Biti as finance minister. Giles Mutsekwa, a former pre-independence
Rhodesian soldier, has controversially been named to co-lead the
ministry of home affairs. One MDC official described it as waiving a
red flag at ZANU and unnecessarily provocative.
Tension is also simmering after Tsvangirai failed to name any MDC MPs
from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, for cabinet positions. They won
Bulawayo for Tsvangirai, beating off the challenge of the breakaway MDC
faction led by Arthur Mutambara, who is to be appointed deputy prime
minister under the terms of the power-sharing agreement.
(IRIN) Â
Post published in: News