Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has blasted as “malicious” assurances given by southern African leaders at the end of a 12-hour SADC summit, that the party had agreed to join President Robert Mugabe in a power-sharing government in February.
“It’s completely malicious,” a spokesperson for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai told the state broadcaster, the SABC, Tuesday night after South African President Kgalema Motlanthe told SABC that Zimbabwe’s four-month-long political post election turmoil was over.
“There was no agreement. We will only form a government subject to the resolution of all of our demands,” MDC spokesperson Joseph Mungwari said.
After 12 hours of talks between nine heads of state and government from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community, SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salamao, reading from a communiqué, said: “The prime minister (Tsvangirai) and the deputy prime ministers shall be sworn in by 11 February 2009.”
The swearing in of ministers from Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and two factions of the MDC would take place two days later, ending the process of the formation of the inclusive government, according to SADC.
When asked whether the MDC had agreed, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said: “Yes, of course, they will ensure that the amendment 19 (that makes Tsvangirai prime minister) is enacted and will present themselves on the said date for the swearing-in ceremony.”
Motlanthe also maintained that the MDC had given in to a SADC proposal that it should share control of the home affairs ministry with Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.
“All the parties accepted that position of SADC,” he said.
Source African Press Agency
