Zimbabwe opposition disputes deal claim

ZIMBABWE’S MAIN opposition party yesterday refused to confirm or deny claims by a regional body that it had agreed to join a unity government with President Robert Mugabe of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Early yesterday South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who chaired the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Pretoria – convened to revive Zimbabwe’s powersharing deal – said all the parties had agreed to a compromise deal.

When asked if the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had also agreed to their proposal he replied: “Yes, of course they will ensure that the amendment 19 [which makes Tsvangirai prime minister] is enacted and will present themselves for the swearing-in ceremony.”

Under SADC’s deal Zimbabwe’s new prime minister and the deputy prime ministers would be sworn in on February 11th next.

The swearing in of ministers from both parties would take place two days later. This, according to the SADC, would see the forming of Zimbabwe’s new inclusive government. On his arrival back in Zimbabwe Mr Mugabe confirmed he had agreed to the SADC proposal and that the MDC’s concerns on a number of issues would be looked into.

However, following Mr Motlanthe’s press conference the MDC issued a statement saying the outcome of the summit fell well short of what it had hoped for in terms of the regional body conducting itself in an unbiased manner.

“It was our expectation that the SADC processes would be above board and be beyond reproach. Regrettably, once again we note that Mr Mugabe was allowed to sit in during the closed session of the plenary hearings,” it said.

Although the MDC declined to say whether it rejected or accepted the outcome of the summit, it indicated that its senior leaders would make the final decision on the SADC’s latest solution at a meeting this Friday.

To date the MDC has refused all attempts to get it into government with Mr Mugabe because it says he wants to retain control of the most powerful ministries and key government positions.

Yesterday’s agreement is said to contain a clause that provides for the powerful home affairs ministry, which controls the police, to be shared for the first six months of the new administration, after which this would be reviewed.

The compromise is effectively the same deal the MDC refused to accept before Christmas, prompting analysts to question why it would accept the offer now.