Motlanthe wants Tsvangirai sworn-in 'immediately'

• MDC threatens to block Amendment 19

• Mugabe raps 'prostitute' Tsvangirai

• Alfi Nyoni: Why Tsvangirai must join government

• Africa shows little appetite for Zim sanctions, intervention

• SA tells Zim leaders to put lives before politics

• Mugabe tells supporters to be ready for new elections

• Post Editorial: Tsvangirai pushing his luck too far

• Zambian newspaper lashes Tsvangirai, warns of 'shifting tide of public opinion'

• Document: Tendai Biti's letter to Mbeki

• Negotiators strike agreement on Constitutional Amendment No. 19

• Talks threatened as Mbeki, Tsvangirai trade barbs

• Mbeki letter 'angers' Tsvangirai

• Zanu PF, MDC negotiators meet in SA

• Elders urge MDC to join unity government

• ANC team to press for Zimbabwe deal

• Motlanthe wants Zim rivals to be sworn-in

• Tsvangirai eyes new Zimbabwe government in 2 months

• South Africa withholds aid to Zimbabwe

• Text: statement by South Africa cabinet on Zimbabwe

• Zimbabwe negotiators set to meet over draft Bill

• Constitutional Amendment 19 draft sent to Mbeki

• Tsvangirai seeks EU support for inclusive government

• MDC (Tsvangirai) national council resolutions

• Tsvangirai's MDC to join unity government

• Tsvangirai running out of options - analysts

• Zanu PF asks Mugabe to form new government

• SADC leans heavily on Tsvangirai to share Home Affairs

• Mugabe vows to form new government

• Document: SADC communique on Zimbabwe, DRC

Posted to the web: 15/12/2008 02:36:11
SOUTH African President Kgalema Motlanthe said Zimbabwe's prime minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai must be sworn in immediately as a constitutional amendment providing for a unity government was gazetted Saturday.

"This amendment creates among others the positions of Prime Minister and Vice-Prime Minister, the incumbent of which we expect to be sworn in with immediate effect," Motlanthe said in a statement.

Motlanthe welcomed the gazetting of the constitutional amendment, saying it was a "major step towards the formation of an inclusive government in Zimbabwe."

The amendement creates the position of prime minister, earmarked for Tsvangirai, who signed a unity accord three months ago with President Robert Mugabe and rival MDC leader Arthur Mutambara, though the two have so far failed to agree on how to form a cabinet.

Tsvangirai outpolled Mugabe in a first round presidential vote in March, but pulled out of a runoff after a deadly campaign of violence, which he accused Mugabe's party of orchestrating.

While lengthy negotiations have yielded the draft text on sharing out powers between president, prime minister and vice prime minister, Tsvangirai's MDC has warned there remain many issues around the formation of a unity government.

"These issues which are political in nature relate to issues of appointment of governors, ministers and others," spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP.

Zimbabwe, currently wracked by a cholera crisis, has spiralled into massive economic collapse during the political stalemate since first round elections in March.

"South Africa and SADC stand ready to assist the people of Zimbabwe as they embark on the difficult road towards the reconstruction and development of their country," Motlanthe said in his statement.

Tsvangirai is currently in Botswana where he says he is not leaving before he is issued a passport by the Zimbabwe government. Using an emergency travel document, he left Zimbabwe on November 9 to attend a regional summit in South Africa.

He did not return to Zimbabwe, and the travel document has since expired.

A lawyer told New Zimbabwe.com there was nothing that could stop Tsvangirai from being allowed into Zimbabwe if he presented himself to immigration with suitable identification.

Tsvangirai, however, says he intends to fly to Zimbabwe and no airline can take him without a travel document.

He said on Friday: "My ETD has expired whilst I was out. I cannot travel on an expired ETD. Who’s going to let you on a plane with an expired ETD?" - AFP/Staff Reporter
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