A new Zimbabwe is born after the Southern African country’s political parties on Monday officially adopted the country’s historic power-sharing agreement formalising the establishment of a government of national unity in that country.
The landmark agreement comes as a result of facilitation efforts by President Thabo Mbeki who was tasked by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate talks between Zimbabwe’s three main political leaders.
The leaders received standing ovations as they entered the International Conference Centre at the Rainbow Towers Hotel to sign the agreement.
The ceremony was attended by hundreds of party members, diplomats and African Union (AU) and SADC representatives who cheered as the agreement was signed as optimism grows that the economic and political crisis in that country might finally be resolved.
Mr Robert Mugabe remains President of Zimbabwe; Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai is to become Prime Minister and MDC faction leader Arthur Mutambara will hold the post of Deputy Prime Minister under the terms of the agreement.
Regarding the country’s cabinet, Mr Tsvangirai’s MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 seats, while President Mugabe’s Zanu-PF will hold the remaining 15, Mr Mbeki said.
The chief mediator told the delegates they had travelled a long road to reach such a stage.
Faced with mounting global pressure, runaway inflation and economic crisis, the leaders agreed that there was a need to work together towards an inclusive government, which is the closest the leaders could agree on in terms of a power-sharing accord.
The deal, which was announced last Friday, drew praise from all over Africa and beyond.
President Mbeki was thanked by the leaders on Monday for his patience and effort in seeking to resolve the crisis caused by the contentious presidential election earlier this year.
SADC Chairman for Organ of Politics, Defence, Security and Co-operation, King Mswati thanked him for his uniting efforts to strike the peace deal.
“Mbeki has worked tirelessly to make this day possible and it is for this reason that the parties must make this government of national unity work,” said King Mswati.
Negotiations started at the end of July, but stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. The two have been bitter rivals for a decade.
Mr Mugabe has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.
The country and it’s people have been facing turmoil. In August, the country’s Central Statistical Office said inflation was at 11.2 million percent, the highest in the world.
A third of its 12 million citizens have fled and most of those who remain survive on barely mealie-meal porridge.
The economic crisis has destroyed Zimbabwe’s currency and made it difficult for Zimbabweans to buy basic commodities, electricity, fuel and medicines.
The business community has welcomed the signing of a political agreement between Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU – PF and the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC).
Analysts said in an interview that the political impasse was to blame for the current economic woes hence cooperation between Zanu-PF and MDC was the answer to Zimbabwe’s turnaround programme.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce past President Mariah Hativagone said the political settlement would help attract investors into the country and boost business confidence in Zimbabwe.
She said the business sector would support the initiative shown by the politicians to ensure Zimbabwe came out of her problems that had pushed inflation to record levels.
” We are pleased and happy that the two major parties have reached an agreement,” she said.
“Everything will now begin to take shape. The signing will create a lot of stability in the economy and lure back investment in the country,” she added.
Thanks Mr. Robert Mugabe. I wish Zimbabwe all the best.
if mugabe and tsavee can come together, why cant these guys do the same here?
I hope the Zimbabweans can start returning to their country now and stop selling chocolates and biscuits on street corners and on buses.
I only hope Tsvangirai s life is not at stake knowing comorade Mugabe.
as long as Mugabe is president then the country is still not getting any aid, and the colonial masters that still pull the strings of the “independent puppets” will keep punishing mugabe. Mugabes policies are true patriotism but they hurt the lives of the common man, im torn between Go and stay, if he goes the colonialists win, if he stays the country looses, solution Mugabe should die as president in 3 weeks time
i think its time we showed europe dat we can sort our problems! well done sadc/au!
be careful morgan cause mugabe is a snake in a green glass. Mdutu
I am very worried about Morgan’s life under the leadership of Mugabe. His hands are stained with blood and every year one of his people have to be sacrificed. I pity Morgan just like the late Benaziah Bhutto in Pakistan.
how foolish can morgan be…honestly……
Yabufi iyo. Fino fyaikana teti ibombe!
obviously bob is up to no good,that nigga always has something up his sleeve,just wait and see,something is bound to pop up.anyways i wish them all the best.
Zimbabweans should now go back home and enjoy life.Home sweet Home, because these guys have been stealing, attacking people on the streets.Plenty to mention hahahahahaha
# 2 iwe teti ibombe pa Zed. Now Zimbabwe will be routed as there will be no checks and balances. Pity for Zimbabwe.
Morgan Tsvangirai is a sellout! Mugabe has managed to out-manouver him to stop the west from taunting him and to receive more aid. If mugabe continues to command the military then he hasn’t ceded any real power and therefore the opposition pose no real threat despite Morgan chairing the Cabinet. I think the opposition are more impressed by titles such as prime-minister and D-prime minister.
Its a right step in the right direction but Zimbabweans must hold a referendum to change the Constitution so as to enable an equal powersharing deal bcoz Mugabe still holds significant power as president as per statutory rights. Once again Mugabe has proven his no fool and more politically astute!
iwe mudala lt yashani iyo arent there any other people or other ads you can put than aba ba mwenye fi mwenye konse fye
I just hope Tsvangarai will not be accused of failure also when the next elections come. Such would be political death that would certainly prove irrecoverable.
It will take a while before Zim start to stabilise. As at now, it is a wait and see match ..the holding of the Agreeement… 2 years before we start seeing results
baby hippo(UNAM)
is this the beginning of the end of Zambia – forget all future serious investment with Banda or Sata at the Head….
Leave Zimbabweans alone. They are the most pompous people on earth. Let them sort out their own mess with Robert.
I have no sympathy for them. Watch them, unless they have now learnt to appreciate others, otherwise, they will start bragging again.
Zambians will never be half a Zimbabwean…look what was there for the taking and you Zedians blew it. Now you are getting a unknown as head of state – watch you lose your paper successes overnight! Booooyeaaaaaah!!!!
Is power sharing the solution to Zim problems??? Now they have to pay more huge salaries to even more people…!!
Amaule yalaba Expensive pa Zed nomba.
Thats my bob. Go boy.
This is the political experience some people cry for. Can’t just understand what some people are up to when the claim that HH has no political experience. We have the likes of the late LPM who managed to change the face of Zambia with little or no polical experience at presidential level yet we have mugabe with a lot of presidential political experience and has completely ruined Zimbabwe and this is what some characters here want for Zambia when they make calls that Sata should lead Zambia.
I now realise Morgan is as power-hungry as Mugabe. I had respect for the man and strongly feel he should have held out till Bob’s death bcoz then people would have been fed-up of Zanu-Pf like Zambians were fed up of UNIP. He won the previous elections and would have easily won another with Mugabe gone had he had the ‘patience of a hunter’.
Yeah man, we need more unity and peace in de region. Tired of Black killing Black. Jah bless mi bredren and sistren dem inna Zimbabwe. One love!
Th last stroke of a camels back (Britain) has been broken. As Africans, we have solutions of how to manage ourselves and put in place developmental projects. Petty advice from the Imperialists, world bank,and IMF shouldn’t be entertained even for a minute as they are evil, and only want to mislead Nations.
Africa should forge ahead. I hope this lesson is pemeating into the heads of the asparing Presidents in Zambia. Let us not cheat ourselves that someone will develop our Country! We have to rise to the occassion of building industries and creating employment, and not just looking to the so called Investors.
Education is the key to success!! VIVA INTELLIGENCE CONSCIOUSNESS!
patali teti ibombe,why is mugabe insisting on controlling the military,morgan should start writing his will remember what happend to moyo once his prime minister?he was in charge of the ndebele region the guy died a strange death and no one spoke up in fear of bob,what will stop him now.li savage chibanda ba guy.morgan will just do the cheap work and bob will control (dictate) the system machinery.very soon morgan will be frustarted.
good luck
I have always wondered, plse some one help me, why is it difficult to just shoot this black hippo ugly Robert Mugabe and let Zim’s people have a life?
Maybe its high time africans realised that this one-size-fits-all democracy that the west has been forcing down our throats while holding our economies at ransom does not work in africa. Maybe some genius africans who understand the diversity of african society should come up with a form of governing that suits our way of life. This multi-partyism has only been widely practised in africa for less than 20 years and look at how much turmoil it has already caused! No counrty so far has been able to hold a ‘free and fair’ election. How long are we going to continue letting our destiny be determined in oreign cubicles by people with ulterior motives? Just watch the srumble for zim unfold..
This idea of sharing power when someone loses elections is saddening to say the least.We are setting a bad precedence in Africa. It happened in Kenya where Kibaki lost to Odinga. Kenya formed a coalition govt. Mugabe lost the first election and made it hard for MDC in the re-run. They are forming a coalition govt as we speak. I hope when Rupiah banda loses the elections,he will not do the same. Viva Zambia…
Just out of interest, when do the SADC presidents actually sit in their office and govern their countries? The other week they were all in Zambia mourning Saint Levy-Patrick; last week they were all in Swaziland celebrating King Mswati’s birthday bash; yesterday they were all in Harare witnessing Mugabe’s bid to hand over a piece of the cake to Morgan. When are they ever at home?
#2 ulicipuba
Uncle BOB can not be tamed… Morgan has betrayed peoples trust!!!
its about time!!! maybe now there can be some sanity in Zimbabwe…
A new trend in Africa, Lose elections but just hold out until the winner gives in then share the power.I pray this does not move next door ….. my home.It has happened and looks to be a new trend on the continent, e.g Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans should not celebrete yet. They should remember the deal between that Mugabe and Nkhomo. Who did it work? Mugabe is not a man to believe.
Never seen this kind of sh…t anywere this is bull sh..if i was Morgan i wouldn’t be part of this coz Mugabe is still the President. it wiil never work they will soobn start getin under eash others skin unless the Prime Minister will be over the President
GOOD LUCK FOR ZIM WE ALSO WANT THE SAME IN ZAMBIA
#33 better to share power than to divide and rule at the expense of the sufferers.
#5,well said.
Mayee, Morgan better watch his back. Dont ever play games with Big Bob. He doesnt fear nobody.
it’s okey for Morgan, He has to be inside to be “inside” you know. Mugabe prophesied that only God will remove him as President and for sure He will. We will be waiting….
After a year or two when the dust has settled Mugube known for his crafty and cunning behavior is going to do another “gukurahundi” on MDC supporters so that they don’t dare vote Zanu-PF out of power. It’s a very sad day. I guess most of the wise and mature Zimbabweans did not celebrate because Mugabe is still in charge of the military and Chiwenga the butcher of the Matebele will still remain the man in charge of the army. I am glad I was not born in Zim…
#34 I agree with you. Do these Presidents stay in their countries for a month or so to attend to the needs and problems of their people. Its really a shame.
The attitude that Mugabe had yesterday when giving his speech was revolting. He will never change and will continue to cause problems for Zim. Unfortunately Zambia bears the brunt as we continue supporting economic refugees.
##31 you seem to be ignorant and sick in your mind,robert is right 2 have chased the whites they chess here my brother/sister is between black and white open you short sighted view!!!
white are the mchinery behind morgan that boy who cant read there move to ruine zimbabwe,give respect 2 mugabe he is not fighting morgan he is fight gorden brown and the queen behind morgan,you should have a test of having lived abroad as a black man then you will understand why mugabe is respected even by south african president,you dont realise why MADIBA hasnt spoken on this matter when he is just a few miles from sky flying inflation country..think!!!
The major blame goes to Mbeki and the whole SADC for the appeacement policy on Mugabe SHAME!
this is a very good development whether you hate robert or morgan i believe we should lok at how people in zim have suffered and thank God these 2 leaders have come to a compromise
Be Careful Tsvangirai..Mugabe did this to Nkomo..and look where he is today..Mugabe is a bitter cunning old man
I too am weiry..the taste in the pudding…let’s wait and see whether the marriage will last…commenting when one is on a honeymoon is too premature…lets hope there is a prenup for when it falls apart