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(TALKZIMBABWE) Historic Zimbabwe power-sharing deal signed on 9/11

Historic Zimbabwe power-sharing deal signed on 9/11
Itayi GARANDE
Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:01:00 +0000

President Mugabe (r) Morgan Tsvangirai agree to share power in an all-inclusive government

THE leader of the Movement for Democratic Change has confirmed to reporters in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare that a power-sharing deal has been signed by the main political parties in Zimbabwe and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, the appointed mediator, has held a press conference to announcing the news.

Tsvangirai confirmed the news shortly after 8pm (GMT). "We've got a deal," he told journalists in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital.

The talks have long been deadlocked over the allocation of executive power between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, but the principals managed to unlock the impasse shortly after 7.30pm (GMT).

The news has also been confirmed by South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

President Mbeki held a press conference after the agreement and urged the international community to help in the reconstruction of Zimbabwe. He told reporters: "An agreement has been reached about all the matters on the agenda of the negotiations... all of them (leaders) endorsed the document tonight, signed it."

"The new government will work hard to mobilize support from the region to assist the people of Zimbabwe to recover from the economic problems currently being faced," said President Mbeki. "The agreement reached should be supported. Certainly, the region (Sadc) will help in the reconstruction efforts."

"I'm sure this new leadership is ready to address the challenges" facing the country, said Mbeki.

"This is an agreement of the leaders and the people of Zimbabwe and should be respected," he continued. "Zimbabwean people have taken their own decision about the future of their own country, and the rest of the world should respect that."

The South African president said, in response to a question that the power-sharing document had been drafted by the African Union, that it reflects the wishes and aspirations of the Zimbabwean people.

President Mbeki said that a formal ceremony will be held on Monday at 10am (9am GMT) and regional leaders will attend to commemorate the signing of the deal. He urged the media not to speculate on the content of the final document to be officially signed. He warned: "Don't trust what you think you know."

The principals to the talks, President Robert Mugabe, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and leader of the smaller faction of the MDC, Arthur Mutambara had expressed optimism Wednesday that a deal was imminent.

The signing of the deal is a major success and diplomatic breakthrough for President Mbeki’s quiet diplomacy which many critics had heralded as a failure. It is also a triumph of African diplomacy as no Western powers were involved in the talks.

President Mbeki has been in Zimbabwe since Monday trying to work out how Tsvangirai and President Mugabe would run an all-inclusive government.

The news was received well by the international community and news correspondents across the world. BBC Africa editor Martin Plaut says the deal opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's economy.

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, NEGOTIATIONS

posted by MrK @ 5:26 AM