Kitsepile Nyathi
14 October 2008
Harare — Zimbabwe's fragile power sharing agreement was facing parliamentary scrutiny today as former South African President Thabo Mbeki pressed on with efforts to break the impasse over the allocation of cabinet posts.
"We should be back to work today (cabinet negotiations)," said Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Patrick Chinamasa.
He was speaking ahead of another round of meetings between Mr Mbeki and leaders of the ruling Zanu PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions.
Fresh ideas
"We hope the facilitator will come up with fresh ideas."
The re-opening of parliament, more than a month after opposition MPs heckled and jeered President Robert Mugabe at the official opening of the legislature is seen as a major test for the deal already poisoned by the ruling party's resolve to retain all key ministries.
The highlight of the first session of the seventh parliament is expected to be the Constitution Amendment (No.19), which will give effect to the framework for a unity government between Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF and the MDC factions.
The agreement brokered by Mr Mbeki after a bloody election season in the southern African country will see main MDC leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai becoming Prime Minister while Professor Arthur Mutambara of the small MDC becomes his deputy. Mr Chinamasa said Mr Mugabe will not wait for parliament to pass the amendment before swearing in Mr Tsvangirai, Prof Mutambara and Ms Thokozani Khuphe who will take the second post of deputy prime minister.
"Mr Tsvangirai could be appointed Prime Minister pending the enactment of No.19," he told the state controlled Herald newspaper. "The President has the right to appoint provided those he appoints find seats in parliament.
Mr Tsvangirai and Prof Mutambara are not members of Parliament and seats have to be created for them within three months of taking the oath of office.
The seats would be found through the constitutional amendment, which will increase the number of senators that could be directly appointed by the president from five to 11.
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