ZIMBABWE:ZIMBABWE'S NEW unity government leaders failed to agree on how key ministries should be divided yesterday and have referred the matter back to negotiators, Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said yesterday, writes Bill Corcoranin Johannesburg.
President Robert Mugabe, prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai and opposition faction leader Arthur Mutambara were to decide on Tuesday how the new government's 31 ministries were to be divided, but the meeting was put off until yesterday while behind- the-scenes negotiations took place.
However, despite the extra time the three men have been unable to agree on who will control key ministries such as home affairs, which controls the police force and secret service.
"The meeting did not produce an agreement and the matter has been referred to the negotiators because of contestations over key ministries," Mr Chamisa told local reporters. "The negotiators will convene urgently to try to resolve the deadlock."
An opposition source close to the negotiations said on condition of anonymity: "Zanu-PF wants all the powerful ministries, like finance, defence, local government and information and [to] leave us less important ministries. We are saying: 'Let's have an equal share.'"
Last Monday's historic powersharing deal meant the new government's ministries would be divided between the three parties, with Zanu-PF allotted 15 portfolios, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC 13 and Mr Mutambara's faction three.
However, the latest development is an early indication of how difficult it will be for a multiparty cabinet to operate effectively given the wide divisions that exist between the former ruling regime and both opposition groups.
Nevertheless, Mr Tsvangirai has reiterated his belief that his long-time adversary is committed to making the new regime work. Speaking on South African radio on Wednesday he said he was certain Mr Mugabe's commitment to the deal was "unquestionable".
"At a personal level, we don't have a strained relationship . . . there has been some positive interaction. So I'm quite confident that we can work together for the good of the people. I mean that's the whole intention," he said.
Mr Mugabe told his party's central committee live on state television on the same day that while sharing power with their rival was a "humiliation" it was one they had to accept because they had lost their parliamentary majority in March's general election.
Mr Tsvangirai also won a presidential majority but did not secure the 50 per cent plus one votes needed to avoid a run-off. He subsequently withdrew from the run-off after widespread violence that caused the death of more than 200 of his supporters.
"One keeps asking if only we had not blundered in the harmonised election we would not be facing this humiliation," Mr Mugabe said. "This is what we have to deal with."
Despite the hope that surrounds the deal, the country's central bank issued a new 1,000 dollar note on Wednesday in a bid to ease widespread cash shortages and spiralling inflation. A series of new notes has been introduced since August, after the central bank struck 10 zeros off the local currency.