Mbeki's 'twin cabinet' plan has Mugabe on the backfoot

PLAN: Mbeki tabled a proposal which MDC leader Tsvangirai accepted, but was rejected by Mugabe

• Zimbabwe deal to be signed Thursday

• Mbeki Zimbabwe mediation to end 'soon' - Swaziland

• Mbeki makes new power-sharing proposal

• Mugabe reports 'good progress' in talks

• Negotiators return home without deal

• Mbeki snubbed Tsvangirai - paper

• Mugabe's functions under Constitution before power-sharing

• DOCUMENTS: The power-sharing document Tsvangirai refuses to sign

• Mbeki to travel to Zimbabwee in push for new deal

• SADC summit fails to secure power-sharing deal

• Mutambara: Tsvangirai indecisive

• Mugabe at odds with Tsvangirai over power-sharing

• Mugabe downcast over power-sharing talks

• Mugabe praises 'patient man' Mbeki

• Zimbabwe rivals fight over who will chair Cabinet

• Makone outed as media mole at power-sharing talks

• Zimbabwe negotiators hunt mole, sell world media dummy

• South Africa slams western sanctions on Zim

• Mugabe, Tsvangirai 'differ sharply' over dinner

• Text: Memorandum of Understanding between Zanu PF and MDC

By Basildon Peta
Posted to the web: 11/09/2008 02:29:28
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki has come up with a unique compromise proposal in which Zimbabwe would adopt a "twin cabinet" arrangement. This as he desperately tries to get that country's negotiating parties to conclude a much-awaited power sharing deal.

Morgan Tsvangirai has accepted Mbeki's proposal and for the first time in the latter's mediation initiative, the ball is now effectively in Robert Mugabe's court to end the deadlock in the long-stalled talks.

A final deal was not signed on Wednesday, much of the day spent debating on the configuration of powers between the offices of president and prime minister.

Tsvangirai had gone back to insisting on being designated head of government with power to chair the cabinet while Mugabe would be head of state. Mugabe was, on the other hand, not willing to relinquish chairing of cabinet to Tsvangirai.

Mbeki then suggested a compromise proposal in which a "council of ministers" chaired by Tsvangirai as prime minister would be created. The "council of ministers" would be charged with debating and formulating government policy and overseeing its implementation, among other things. Mugabe would then remain as chairman of cabinet, which would review the work of the "council of ministers".

While Tsvangirai accepted the proposal, sources claimed that Mugabe had rejected it, saying it would render him largely ceremonial. Mugabe preferred to just have one cabinet which he would lead, with Tsvangirai as his deputy, though as a compromise Mugabe would also cede more supervisory power to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader.

Before accepting Mbeki's compromise proposal, Tsvangirai had insisted that it would be a major anomaly to have a prime minister who did not chair cabinet.
If Mugabe changes his mind and accepts Mbeki's proposal, the parties would finally seek agreement on the allocation of the 31 cabinet portfolios before they sign a deal today.

The allocation of cabinet portfolios should not present a major challenge as Mugabe had earlier accepted that the prime minister could play a more supervisory role over all ministries, dropping his earlier demand that all security ministries be his sole prerogative. - Independent
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com