Mugabe ‘gives Zanu-PF key posts’
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has begun allocating key ministries to his own party - in defiance of a power-sharing deal, reports say.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the move had put the deal “in jeopardy”.
| MINISTRY DIVISION | |
| Zanu-PF: 14 ministries including | MDC: 13 ministries including |
| Defence Foreign affairs Justice Local government Media |
Constitutional and parliamentary affairs Economic planning and investment promotion Labour Sport Arts and culture Science and technology development |
| Source: Herald newspaper, citing government gazette (via the BBC) | |
The MDC had signed the power-sharing agreement with Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party on 15 September.
But the parties have been deadlocked in allocating ministries and have called back South African mediators.
South African President Thabo Mbeki was invited back after a meeting on Friday between Mr Mugabe, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC splinter group head Arthur Mutambara.
But state media on Saturday reported that Mr Mugabe had allocated the ministries responsible for the army, police and other state security to Zanu-PF.
The state-run Herald newspaper said Mr Mugabe had allocated the ministries “in terms of the agreement signed by the three parties”.
But MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: “This is Zanu-PF’s arrogant wish list that puts the whole deal into jeopardy. It is unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous.
“Just yesterday we agreed to call in the facilitator Thabo Mbeki because there was a deadlock. The MDC totally and absolutely rejects this nonsense.”
One of the MDC’s key expectations was that it would get control of the police if Zanu-PF controlled the army.
Under the deal Mr Mugabe remains president while Mr Tsvangirai becomes prime minister.
But the deal has so far failed to ease the country’s crippling economic crisis.
Some outlets have been licensed to sell goods in US dollars
On Thursday, it was announced that Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate had soared to 231,000,000%.
Meanwhile, the UN says it needs $140m for food aid over the next six months.
Critics of Mr Mugabe say he triggered the economic crisis when he began seizing white-owned farms for land redistribution ahead of parliamentary elections in 2000.
But Mr Mugabe blames Western sanctions which target him and his chief supporters for wrecking Zimbabwe’s economy.
The crisis worsened after disputed elections earlier this year. Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe in March’s polls, but not enough for outright victory.
He pulled out of a run-off in June, accusing Zanu-PF militia and the army of organising attacks on its supporters which left some 200 people dead.
October 11th, 2008 13:42
Is there really anyone out there naive enough to have not seen this coming?
Mugabe is predictable - he’ll simply take what ever he wants.
The rest of the world and Africa are predictable - they’ll simply let him!
It is a real pity Mugabe is not white - he would have been stopped long ago.
October 11th, 2008 15:13
According to http://www.zimbabwetoday.co.uk “the dream deal with the MDC, signed with such fanfares only a few weeks ago, is off…” Mugabe is expected tomorrow (Sunday) to announce his cabinet, which will include Mutambara for window dressing. All the other members will be hard-line Zanu-PF party men. And for Zimbabwe nothing will have changed.
It also appears that, if pressed on the matter, Mugabe is likely to argue that the MDC have ‘failed to listen to reason’ and that they were being ‘pressed by their Western masters’. and it may be that Mbeki will also no longer wish to be associated with the resulting debacle.
It is such a pity, not only for the MDC members, but particularly for the country’s poor and innocent people, that this frightful man still has the power to make these unilateral decisions. Not only have the innocent got to pay for the incompetent, they have also got to continue to be ruled by the super-selfishly corrupt. And there seems not very much,at present,that the rest of the world can do about it. Perhaps one day???????
October 11th, 2008 16:30
You are quite correct, Ants, in saying this is all predictable.
I have said for weeks that Mugabe has to be forced out; he will not give up any real power voluntarily.
The rest of the world is now concerned with the forthcoming global recession and has forgotten the poor people of Zimbabwe. This is at least partially because the political ‘leaders’ of southern Africa are self evidently not interested in unseating Mugabe, and this means ‘the west’ can do nothing.
Ian Khama has the right ideas but I suspect it is the tragic death of President Mwanawasa which has allowed Mbeki and the rest of the spineless politicians to do nothing (and that includes the ridiculous, so called agreement). Until those who hold power in southern Africa are prepared to act, Mugabe will continue as if nothing has happened. Every single one of them already has blood on their hands and there is an awful lot more blood to follow. Don’t forget; this is African blood.
Africa wants and needs support from the West.
For Heavens sake, show that you can use that support for the benefit of all the people and not a tiny minority. Nothing will be given while Mugabe is still in power and I agree with that completely.
October 11th, 2008 16:40
True Grit
I think there is plenty the ‘rest of the world’ can do. SA for one can tell Mugabe to resign “or else”, the SADC can put pressure on him to leave, the AU can exert their influence and the West can threaten further sanctions for the Mugabe regime as well as threaten to withdraw aid from other African nations if they don’t sort the problem of Mugabe out. China and Russia could take a moral stand instead of looking after their own interests …. the list is endless and we are all failing Zimbabwe by not doing enough.
October 11th, 2008 18:05
Agreed True Grit. Is it time for another email campaign to the SADC etc.?
October 11th, 2008 20:20
“China and Russia could take a moral stand instead of looking after their own interests”
You must be joking.
October 12th, 2008 08:00
Can someone please post SADC and AU email addresses for us to inundate with protest mail at this time? Specially those of us who cannot attend the Big Sunday Rally? Thanks.
October 12th, 2008 12:26
@Ozzie - Our action contact database should give you a very good starting point. Link.
October 17th, 2008 14:24
@Sokwanele - Thanks - emails were duly sent - half a dozen got bounced back, so perhaps some updates might be needed?
October 17th, 2008 22:28
Good on yer, Ozzie! At least somebody is doing something! I’ll follow suit.