MDC slams 'outrageous' wish list
2008-10-11 12:01
Special Report
A classical music presenter for the BBC has been arrested and is in custody in Zimbabwe.
Harare - Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe has allocated three important government ministries to
his Zanu-PF party, angering the opposition and threatening a
power-sharing deal.
A government notice on Saturday showed Mugabe had allocated
to his party the powerful ministries of defence, home affairs -
which is in charge of the police - and finance, a crucial
portfolio to the resuscitation of Zimbabwe's devastated economy.
Mugabe and main opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been deadlocked over how to
share key ministries and on Friday agreed to call in former South African president Thabo Mbeki who has mediated in
negotiations to end a long-running political crisis.
The Cabinet impasse has outraged ordinary Zimbabweans who
had hoped a September 15 power-sharing agreement would end an
economic meltdown.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the opposition had not
agreed to the allocation.
"This is Zanu-PF's arrogant wish list that puts the whole
deal into jeopardy. It is unilateral, contemptuous and
outrageous," Chamisa said.
"The MDC totally and absolutely rejects this nonsense.
Zanu-PF is taking people for a ride and there is a price for
that."
The September power-sharing deal allows Mugabe, in power
since Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980, to retain
the presidency and chair the cabinet, while Tsvangirai, as prime
minister, would head a council of ministers supervising the
Cabinet.
Zanu-PF will have 15 seats in the Cabinet, Tsvangirai's MDC
13 and a splinter MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara three
posts, giving the opposition a combined majority.
According to the government gazette, Mugabe's Zanu-PF will
also be in charge of the Foreign Affairs, Justice and the Media
and Information ministries, while the MDC will take control of
the Health, Public Service and Constitutional and Parliamentary
Affairs portfolios.
While the politicians bicker, Zimbabwe's economy continues
to implode with official inflation at a new record 231 million
percent, while shortages of food, foreign currency, water and
electricity continue to bite.
- Reuters