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Zimbabwe power-sharing deal already under threat

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Mutambara Mugabe Tsvangirai Mbeki

17 September 2008

By Fortune Tazvida

A rebellion within Zanu PF over the appointment of cabinet ministers is threatening to derail the power-sharing agreement that was signed Monday. Nehanda Radio understands several senior party officials mainly from the Mujuru faction face the chop in what is looking like Robert Mugabe rewarding loyalists from the Mnangagwa faction, who were instrumental in securing his violent re-election.

Mugabe is battling to contain the rebellion and this caused a delay in the announcement which was expected Tuesday. "The central committee is meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) and we will probably discuss the issue (of the new cabinet)," the ruling party spokesperson Ephraim Masawi said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said he expected the cabinet to have been sorted out by Wednesday. His party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said there was some doubt that the meeting would be held on Wednesday.

"We had budgeted for the meeting today but it did not take place," Chamisa said. "Tomorrow is doubtful, but it will take place any time soon. There is a lot of anxiety in the country."

So far specualtion is that the MDC have secured the Home Affairs, Justice, Finance and Information Ministries among others, while Zanu PF retained Defence, Agriculture, Mines and Prisons. Its also alleged Zanu PF cronies are stalling on the cabinet issue to allow time for them to share mining concessions amongst themselves which will be hard to reverse should they secure a Mining Ministry.

Its the acrimony in Zanu PF however that has posed the question of whether the party can survive the deal. Members of its Bulawayo Province are said to be resigning enmasse in protest at the sidelining of former PF ZAPU members that were catered for by the 1987 unity accord.

Nehanda Radio understands former Home Affairs Minister Dumiso Dabengwa who quit Zanu PF this year to join Simba Makoni’s Mavambo Project is being touted to lead a resurrected PF ZAPU.

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