Tsvangirai was to deliver his maiden speech in parliament on Wednesday.
Also sworn in as parliamentarians were Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Mutambara, head of the smaller of the two MDC formations, and Attorney
General Johannes Tomana. Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma called the
event the culmination of the formation of a government uniting the
MDC and the Zanu PF party of President Robert Mugabe. Tomana's
swearing-in raised eyebrows, however, as it suggested that Mr. Mugabe
may not be willing to replace Tomana as Mr. Tsvangirai has demanded.
The MDC wants Tomana, seen as too much of a Zanu PF partisan and
compromised on the rule of law, and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono,
to be removed and replaced with consensus appointees. Mr. Tsvangirai
said Mr. Mugabe’s unilateral appointments of Tomana and Gono as well as
31 ministerial permanent secretaries would be revisited in the next two
weeks. But Zanu PF hardliners told VOA that there is no going back on
the appointments, saying the consider Tomana and Gono to be buffers
against regime change.
ZWNEWS
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