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(TALKZIMBABWE) Mugabe sends letter of appointment to Tsvangirai

Mugabe sends letter of appointment to Tsvangirai
Ranganai Chidemo
Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:22:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Mugabe has sent an official letter of appointment to the Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai effectively appointing him as Prime Minister in an all-inclusive Government, according to sources in the ruling Zanu PF.

The letter was delivered to the MDC-T offices in Harare yesterday, amidst speculation that President Mugabe was in the process of appointing Cabinet. The three main parties in Zimbabwe signed a Global Political Agreement on September 15 paving the way for an all-inclusive Government.

Under the Agreement, Tsvangirai become Prime Minister and the leader of a breakaway MDC-T faction, Professor Arthur Mutambara becomes deputy Prime Minister.

The official letter marks the first stage of the appointment of a full Cabinet sometime this week or early next wee, according to sources.

The Herald reported Tuesday that President Mugabe in the process of setting up Government and officials could be appointed early next..

Another letter will follow the letter to Tsvangirai asking him to submit names for appointment to ministerial positions.

President Mugabe gazetted Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill on Saturday allowing him to make the necessary appointments in the power-sharing arrangement.

The MDC-T, however, indicated soon after the gazette that there were still some remaining issues over power-sharing, mainly the allocation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which the opposition party would like total control of.

The MDC-T leader is still in Botswana where he is a guest of President Ian Khama.

Tsvangirai has indicated that he will not return to the country unless he was granted a passport. He has been moving on an Emergency Travel Document for the last year.

MDC-T Secretary General, Tendai Biti indicated in a press conference on Tuesday that the MDC-T party was not going to be part of a Government which left them as junior partners.

President Mugabe has, however, indicated that he will dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections if the MDC-T refuses to be part of the all-inclusive Government or blocks the passage of the Bill in Parliament.

The letter was delivered to the MDC-T offices in Harare yesterday in preparation for a full appointment of Cabinet.

The three main parties in Zimbabwe signed a Global Political Agreement on September 15 paving the way for an all-inclusive Government.

Under the Agreement, Tsvangirai become Prime Minister and the leader of a breakaway MDC-T faction, Professor Arthur Mutambara becomes deputy Prime Minister.

The official letter marks the first stage of the appointment of a full Cabinet sometime this week or early next week.

Another letter will follow the letter to Tsvangirai asking him to submit names for appointment to ministerial positions.

President Mugabe gazetted Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill on Saturday allowing him to make the necessary appointments in the power-sharing arrangement.

The MDC-T, however, indicated soon after the gazette that there were still some remaining issues over power-sharing, mainly the allocation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which the opposition party would like total control of.

The MDC-T leader is still in Botswana where he is a guest of President Ian Khama.

Tsvangirai has indicated that he will not return to the country unless he was granted a passport. He has been moving on an Emergency Travel Document for the last year.

MDC-T Secretary General, Tendai Biti indicated in a press conference on Tuesday that the MDC was not going to be part of a Government which left them as junior partners.

President Mugabe has, however, indicated that he will dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections if the MDC-T refuses to be part of the all-inclusive Government or blocks the passage of the bill in Parliament.

Labels: MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

posted by MrK @ 10:14 AM