Maravi

Mbeki meets Zim parties over inclusive govt impasse

Mbeki meets Zim parties over inclusive govt impasse
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Wednesday October 15, 2008 [05:00]

FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki has arrived in Harare in an attempt to break the impasse surrounding the sharing of ministries in Zimbabwe's proposed inclusive government. It is Mbeki's first public assignment after he was forced by his country's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party to resign last month.

The SADC-appointed facilitator to the inter-party dialogue in Zimbabwe arrived on Monday night in the company of his right-hand man in the mediation Sydney Mufamadi, who also resigned as Minister of Local Government and was met at Harare International Airport by Zimbabwe's foreign affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.

The negotiators from ZANU-PF and the two MDC factions then went into a meeting with Mbeki yesterday morning and by press time had not yet come out.
The sharing of ministries has stalled, as negotiators can't agree over who takes what key ministry.

Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe on Monday swore-in Vice-Presidents Joseph Msika and Joice Mujuru at a ceremony at State House.
The Vice-Presidents pledged allegiance to Zimbabwe and to give wise counsel to the President as well as committing themselves to hold issues discussed in Cabinet in confidence.

Section 31 (c)(i) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the positions of two Vice-Presidents who must take oaths before assuming their duties.
ZANU-PF chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa said the swearing-in of the Vice-Presidents marked the second step towards the formation of a new government, the first one being the gazetting of ministries to be shared.

"What happened (on Monday) is the second step towards the formation of government. On Friday, President Mugabe gazetted the allocation of ministries. The next person to be sworn-in is the Prime Minister, his deputies and Cabinet ministers," he said.
Chinamasa said MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara could be legally sworn-in as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, respectively, pending the enactment of Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 19.

The MDC factions have accused ZANU-PF of taking all "powerful" ministries and have threatened to pull out of the agreement for the inclusive government.
The ministries that ZANU-PF "chose" include finance, foreign and home affairs, state security, defense and justice.

Labels: NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, THABO MBEKI

posted by MrK @ 5:15 AM