Mugabe returns from Singapore, set to meet Tsvangirai this week

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• Text: statement by South Africa cabinet on Zimbabwe

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Posted to the web: 12/01/2009 12:43:11
CHANCES of a face-to-face meeting between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai brightened this week when the 85-year-old leader cut short his holiday in Singapore to return to Zimbabwe.

Mugabe arrived home on Sunday, just under a week after his trip to Asia with his family. A spokesman said Mugabe was still on leave, and Vice President Joice Mujuru was Acting President.

In a letter to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman Kgalema Motlanthe last week, Tsvangirai demanded talks with Mugabe to “iron out outstanding issues” over the formation of a power sharing government.

Motlanthe was critical of both Tsvangirai and Mugabe last week, saying they had shown a "lackadaisical" attitude towards forming a government.

"The sooner an inclusive government is formed, the sooner there can be concerted efforts by all parties to deal with a massive humanitarian crisis," Motlanthe said.

The top decision making body of Tsvangirai’s MDC, the national council, meets in Harare on January 18 to decide whether to join Mugabe’s Zanu PF and a rival MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara in a unity government based on a September 15 agreement between the three parties.

Mugabe’s availability means he can meet Tsvangirai anytime before Sunday, and should the two leaders find common ground on the allocation of cabinet portfolios, the appointment of governors and operations of the National Security Council, Tsvangirai may be able to secure his party’s support for the power sharing government.

Tsvangirai is expected in Zimbabwe sometime this week after almost three months in neighbouring countries.

The next two weeks are critical to Zimbabwe’s immediate political future with a Constitutional Amendment Bill set to come before parliament on January 20, two days after Tsvangirai’s MDC meets to decide whether to join the unity government. The Bill which gives effect to the unity government needs a two thirds majority to pass – which means Tsvangirai’s MDC must okay it.

Tsvangirai is expected to become Prime Minister in the new unity government while Mugabe remains President.
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