Mugabe to meet Tsvangirai, Mutambara over Cabinet

Mugabe to meet Tsvangirai, Mutambara over Cabinet

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TALKS set for Tuesday between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai on the appointment of ministers in a new unity government have been postponed to Wednesday.

While both Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe's Zanu PF confirmed the postponement, they would not be drawn on whether the delay spelled trouble for the country's day-old power-sharing deal.

"I can confirm that the meeting set for today to allocate ministries for the three parties to the deal did not take place," said Nelson Chamisa spokesperson for the MDC.

"It (meeting) will definitely take place. The nation awaits the cabinet and it will have it (cabinet) as soon as the meeting is held at a later stage," he said, without giving a date.

Zanu PF's negotiator Patrick Chinamasa, confirming the delay, referred comment to Mugabe.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga one of the negotiators for a smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara, who was also due to meet Mugabe and Tsvangirai, said the discussions had been shelved at the request of Zanu PF.

"They were due to meet tonight, but Zanu PF indicated that they have their politburo meeting at the same time, and asked for a postponement until tomorrow (Wednesday)," she said.

The DPA news agency, quoting sources, reported that Zanu PF was uneasy with MDC demands for key ministries including finance, agriculture, home affairs, information and foreign affairs.

A "senior source within Zanu PF" told the agency: "We're not ready to give in to such greedy demands."

But the agency conceded it was not clear whether the hardline thinking reflected Mugabe's and the party's thinking, following reports late last week that the MDC had already 'scored' the listed ministries.

On Monday Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara agreed to share power in a bid to end Zimbabwe's political crisis and economic collapse. The deal ended Mugabe's 28-year monopoly on power.

Under the agreement, Zanu PF get 15 seats and the combined MDC factions 16 in the 31-member cabinet.

After the signing of the deal the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it was ready to discuss kick-starting Zimbabwe's turn-around.

African Development Bank chief Donald Kaberuka in a statement Tuesday also pledged support from his institution, including helping mend Zimbabwe's rifts with other agencies.

"The Bank stands ready in coordination with other international donors to provide support and assist in the context of the normalisation of the country's relations with the international financial community," he said.
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