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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe parties to agree on ministries 'within days'

Zimbabwe parties to agree on ministries 'within days'
By Staff Reporter
Posted to the web: 25/09/2008 01:41:23

AGREEMENT on outstanding issues to a power sharing agreement between Zimbabwe’s three main parties could be reached “within a matter of days” of President Robert Mugabe’s return from New York at the weekend, a source close to the dialogue has told New Zimbabwe.com.

Contradicting claims by spokesmen for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai that the dialogue was “fundamentally deadlocked”, one official said the differences were “very narrow”.

The six negotiators – two each for the ruling Zanu PF and the two rival MDC factions – met last week but failed to reach agreement on the allocation of the ministries of HOME AFFAIRS, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT and FINANCE.

The official, present during the discussions, told New Zimbabwe.com: “Unfortunately, it became very clear that as most of the negotiators are senior members of the three parties, some basically have individual interests in certain ministries and it was impossible to move forward… none were equipped to make compromises and concessions.

“In the end, we referred the matter back to the principals (President Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara) who already have assured positions and are in a position to bulldoze through the little barriers. If dealt with at that level, the differences are very narrow and the issues should be resolved within a matter of days.”

Zanu PF has an allocation of 15 ministries, and eight deputy ministers to the MDC-Tsvangirai’s 13 ministries and 6 deputy ministers. The Mutambara-MDC can appoint 3 ministers and one deputy in the 31-member cabinet.

At the United Nations in New York, President Mugabe dismissed Western reports that the September 15 power-sharing deal could fall apart "because I don't know of any hitch."

"Every one of us is actually positive about the agreement, or the need to cement the agreement and make it work," Mugabe told the Associated Press in an interview.

Zanu PF is said keen to hang onto the four ministries, which also interest the Tsvangirai-MDC. With DEFENCE already conceded to Zanu PF, analysts say any credible power sharing must see the HOME AFFAIRS portfolio, which covers the police, go to the opposition.

Western countries whose financial support will be critical in reviving Zimbabwe’s economy would also be more comfortable with an opposition FINANCE minister, analysts say.

Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister and Mutambara one of his two deputies in the inclusive government which will be installed after the amendment of Zimbabwe’s constitution when parliament resumes sitting on October 14. Mugabe will stay on as President.

In New York, Mugabe described the government as a pyramid with the president at the top, but he said "the president never settles on the matter alone," and always works with the vice presidents.

"And now that we have a prime minister we rope him in and we discuss in the presidency, or whatever we call it, together, and we look at the issues and see what solutions can be applied to any problem that confronts us," Mugabe said.

Labels: NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

posted by MrK @ 2:56 AM