Zimbabwe Deal Threatened by Cabinet Post Dispute

by Jordan Yerman | October 12, 2008 at 07:41 am

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Disagreement over key cabinet positions in the fledgling Zimbabwean government is threatening to dissolve the shaky coalition before it can even complete itself as Robert Mugabe claims key government roles for his incumbent ZANU-PF party, while Morgan Tsvangirai wants them for his MDC party.

Thabo Mbeki, no longer South Africa's president but still mediator in the Harare talks, is expected to arrive tomorrow in hopes of salvaging the power-sharing agreement, but if it's a coalition in name only, then Tsvangirai has no concrete reason to hang around.

The MDC leader accused Mr Mugabe of trying to secure all key ministry posts for his ruling Zanu-PF party.

The MDC has reportedly said if Zanu-PF gets defence, then home affairs - which covers policing - must go to the MDC.

The two bitter rival parties agreed to share power on 15 September but have been deadlocked over cabinet posts.

President Robert Mugabe has laid claim to all key Cabinet posts and Zimbabwe's powerful state security apparatus in a direct challenge to a power-sharing agreement that has deadlocked over allocation of ministries.

AFP news agency quoted Mr Tsvangirai as telling a rally in Harare on Sunday: "If they [Zanu-PF] do it that way, we have no right to be part of such an arrangement.

"The people have suffered. But if it means suffering the more in order for them to get what is at stake, then so be it.