Harare, Oct.11 (ANI): Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has violated his ZANU-PF party’’s power-sharing deal with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai by allocating the three important portfolios of defence, home affairs and finance to members of his party.
According to The Telegraph, Mugabe and Tsvangirai have been deadlocked over how to share key ministries and have agreed to call in Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president, to mediate the crisis. Mbeki’’s spokesman said he would travel to Harare on Monday.
The cabinet impasse has outraged Zimbabweans who had hoped a September 15 power-sharing agreement would end an economic meltdown.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the opposition had not agreed to the allocation.
“This is ZANU-PF’’s arrogant wish list that puts the whole deal into jeopardy. It is unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous,” he said.
“The MDC totally and absolutely rejects this nonsense. ZANU-PF is taking people for a ride and there is a price for that,” he added.
The official Herald newspaper said no cabinet appointments would be made before Mbeki returns to Zimbabwe, but added there was disagreement only over the Ministry of Finance.
Chamisa dismissed this as “ZANU-PF propaganda”. Tsvangirai is set to hold a political rally in Harare on Sunday where he is expected to make his first public comments on Mugabe’’s move.
The power-sharing deal allows Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe’’s independence from Britain in 1980, to retain the presidency and chair the cabinet. Tsvangirai, as prime minister, will head a council of ministers supervising the cabinet.
ZANU-PF will have 15 seats in the cabinet, Tsvangirai’’s MDC 13 and a splinter MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara three posts, giving the opposition a combined majority. (ANI)