Talks to appoint ministers in Zimbabwe’s new unity government were postponed to Wednesday due to “unforeseen circumstances”, a spokesperson for a splinter opposition party said.
Edwin Mushoriwa, spokesperson for the opposition faction led by Arthur Mutambara, said the opposing parties agreed to meet on Wednesday, but he said he was positive that they conclude the meeting soon because the did not think the debate will take long. “It’s just a matter of allocating ministries.”
Meanwhile political sources said the politburo of the ruling ZANU-PF, the party’s highest decision-making body, was meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
They said the party appeared to be divided on who would remain in the new government to be led by President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe will retain his title while Movement for Democratic Change opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will fill a newly created post as prime minister.
Mutambara will take one of the two deputy prime ministerial posts. The government will also have two vice-presidents.
The meeting to allocate ministers for Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government was supposed to start today.
Late on Monday leaders of three Zimbabwe political rivals signed an accord aimed at ending the country’s ruinous political crisis following protracted negotiations.
Under the agreement the leaders agreed to an all-inclusive power-sharing agreement, which will see the appointment of 31 ministers drawn from the three main parties.
One of the other immediate matters is the issue of the amendment of the constitution.
The agreement brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki has been widely approved by African leaders, but the larger international community reacted cautiously, mainly awaiting details.
In August, the parties failed to sign the proposed agreement after Tsvangirai said he needed more time to consult over specific issues regarding the allocation of powers.
