ZIMBABWE/SWITZERLAND: Tsvangirai commits to unity government in Zimbabwe but Kenyan prime minister says it's time for Mugabe to quit

Record ID: 805261

  • Title: ZIMBABWE/SWITZERLAND: Tsvangirai commits to unity government in Zimbabwe but Kenyan prime minister says it's time for Mugabe to quit
  • Date: 31st January 2009
  • Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (JANUARY 30, 2009) (REUTERS) MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SAYING: "The national council hereby resolves, 1. To recall and restate our path to change and a democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe as refined in our congress resolutions of 2006 and our roadmap of May 2006, to restate its commitment to the global political agreement signed on the 11th September 2008 and to commit to be part of the inclusive government". PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SAYING; "But we hope that the MDC will be respected as an equal partner with ZANU PF to resolve all these issues and hope that the country can begin again to have hope for the future". MDC OFFICIALS LISTENING CROWD WAITING OUTSIDE MDC HEADQUARTERS MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI ADDRESSING CROWD CROWD CHEERING DAVOS, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 29, 2009) (REUTERS) KENYAN PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA WALKING TOWARDS CAMERA DELEGATES IN CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYAN PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA, SAYING: "Mr Mugabe does not show any sign of willingness to share power genuinely with the opposition. He wants to retain all the instruments of power, that's the military and also the police force. I just think that that is completely not right, not acceptable, knowing his past history of using his police force against opposition. So that's the reason why we're saying Mr Mugabe has outlived his usefulness. That the time has come for the world to stand up strongly and tell Mr Mugabe that the time for him to quit is now and that any procrastination is just going to cause more suffering for the people of Zimbabwe. Right now, over 3,000 people have died of cholera, and many more are dying. Some are also dying as a result of politicla repression of Mr Mugabe. So the world must act with speed to bring an end to Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe." REPORTERS/ ODINGA WALKING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAANEL5OETPNWCZX4N5O1W3EVGE
  • Story Text: Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has committed itself to forming a unity government with President Robert Mugabe, party leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Friday (January 30), ending a paralysing deadlock that deepened an economic crisis.
    Tsvangirai made the announcement after a meeting of the MDC decision-making national council.
    Tsvangirai, who is set to become prime minister, stated the council's "commitment to the global political agreement signed on the 11th September 2008 and to commit to be part of the inclusive government."
    The decision will increase Zimbabwe's chances of recovering from economic collapse and easing a humanitarian crisis in which more than 60,000 people have been infected by cholera and more than half the population needs food aid.
    Zimbabweans have been longing for a new leadership that can ease the world's highest inflation rate and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages. Millions have fled the suffering to neighboring countries, straining regional economies.
    Western aid and financial assistance tied to the creation of a democratic government and economic reform will be crucial to rescuing what was once one of Africa's most promising countries.
    With the local currency almost worthless and the world's highest inflation rate, the government announced on Thursday it would let Zimbabweans use foreign currencies.
    Zimbabwe's recovery may depend on whether Tsvangirai can work with Mugabe, a master political tactician in power since 1980, who has defied Western sanctions and resisted growing calls to step down.
    Regional leaders had piled pressure on both sides to implement the power-sharing deal they signed in September and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Friday his country was ready to help rebuild Zimbabwe once that happened.
    Mugabe's African critics were sceptical.
    Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a former opposition leader who agreed to share power after post-election violence last year, questioned the deal.
    "Mr Mugabe does not show any sign of willingness to share power genuinely with the opposition. He wants to retain all the instruments of power, that's the military and also the police force," Odinga told Reuters at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.
    "The time has come for the world to stand up strongly and tell Mr Mugabe that the time for him to quit is now and that any procrastination is just going to cause more suffering for the people of Zimbabwe.....the world must act with speed to bring an end to Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe," Odinga added.
    The Sept. 15 power-sharing agreement has been stalled by a dispute over control of key cabinet positions. Tsvangirai's party feared being sidelined in a joint administration. The country was effectively operating without a government.
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