Zim vice-presidents sworn in

2008-10-13 12:31

Harare - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has sworn in two vice-presidents ahead of talks on forming a cabinet, a government official said on Monday, a move that could endanger power-sharing negotiations.

"The two vice-presidents were sworn in this morning because their positions are not in dispute," a senior government official said.

The opposition MDC expressed doubt that the ruling Zanu-PF would compromise in talks on forming a cabinet despite mediation by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki's visit on Monday comes after Mugabe allocated a number of important ministries to his own party, angering the MDC.

"The visit provides a platform and opportunity for Zanu-PF to reverse its unilateral action," MDC spokespeson Nelson Chamisa said.

"The Zanu-PF mindset is not consistent with power-sharing. It cannot be power-sharing when one party controls all key ministries."

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai warned on Sunday that his party could walk away from a power-sharing deal he signed with Mugabe if the latest mediation effort failed to end a deadlock on how to divide key ministries.

Mbeki, who scored his biggest diplomatic coup last month when he nudged Zimbabwe's bitter political rivals to sign a power-sharing deal, is expected in Harare later on Monday.

A government notice on Saturday showed Mugabe had allocated three key ministries to his Zanu-PF party, drawing fire from the opposition and threatening the fragile pact.

Mugabe handed his party the ministries of defence, home affairs - which is in charge of the police - and finance which will be strategic in reviving the collapsing economy.

But the official Herald newspaper has suggested that the finance post was the only outstanding issue.

Chamisa said there was no agreement on all powerful ministries, including, justice, foreign affairs, information and local government.

- Reuters