Zimbabwe rivals to wield equal power in unity govt
Sunday, 14 September 2008
HARARE, Sep 13(AFP): President Robert Mugabe and the opposition will wield equal power in a unity government aimed at ending Zimbabwe's protracted political crisis and economic meltdown, a source said, as international reactions were muted.
While details of Thursday's accord will be formally unveiled on Monday, a source close to the talks told AFP that both the veteran leader and opposition boss Morgan Tsvangirai would co-lead the economically battered nation.
"Mugabe will chair cabinet, while Tsvangirai takes charge of a national security council which consists of 31 cabinet ministers," said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"Power will be shared, no one will get more power than the other party, even in the hiring and firing of cabinet members," the source explained.
"All decisions are made by the council, but the council will have to report back to Mugabe."
Under the agreement, the national security council Tsvangirai will preside over includes the police and the army, which the opposition says Mugabe has often used in the past to terrorise opponents, according to other sources close to the talks.
Many Zimbabweans reacted warily to the deal on Friday, preferring to wait and see if the agreement between the longtime bitter political rivals could be put into practice.
Over the past decade Zimbabwe's economy has collapsed with the world's highest inflation rate, chronic shortages of foreign currency and food, skyrocketing unemployment and widespread hunger.
While details of Thursday's accord will be formally unveiled on Monday, a source close to the talks told AFP that both the veteran leader and opposition boss Morgan Tsvangirai would co-lead the economically battered nation.
"Mugabe will chair cabinet, while Tsvangirai takes charge of a national security council which consists of 31 cabinet ministers," said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"Power will be shared, no one will get more power than the other party, even in the hiring and firing of cabinet members," the source explained.
"All decisions are made by the council, but the council will have to report back to Mugabe."
Under the agreement, the national security council Tsvangirai will preside over includes the police and the army, which the opposition says Mugabe has often used in the past to terrorise opponents, according to other sources close to the talks.
Many Zimbabweans reacted warily to the deal on Friday, preferring to wait and see if the agreement between the longtime bitter political rivals could be put into practice.
Over the past decade Zimbabwe's economy has collapsed with the world's highest inflation rate, chronic shortages of foreign currency and food, skyrocketing unemployment and widespread hunger.