1. Posted on Wednesday 11 February 2009 - 09:06

   ---

   Sam Banda Junior

   

   • Profile
   • Homepage
   • 1155 messages

   ---

   Sam Banda Junior, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi Photo: Elles

   Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai assumes office as prime minister later on Wednesday in a unity government deal with rival Robert Mugabe. The two have been at each others throat for years but agreed on a power-sharing deal sponsored by regional bloc - SADC.

   

   “Expectations are high for Tsvangirai, who will carry the burden of rebuilding the economy, but people will have to be a bit more patient because they will be disappointed," an economist John Robertson told Reuters.
   
   The report said Zimbabweans hope the new government will bring policies to revive a country suffering hyper-inflation, unemployment and food shortages.
   
   Several meetings took place to bring the two together until recently when a Southern African Development Community meeting which lasted for hours agreed that Mugabe and Tsvangirai should come together for national interest.
   
   The first power-sharing deal was brokered by former South African president Thabo Mbeki in September last year.
   
   Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is one of Africa's craftiest political operators. Tsvangirai is a former trade union leader known for fiery speeches, but his leadership skills in government remain untested.
   
   According to a BBC Network Africa report, Tsvangirai, 56, said on Tuesday he would focus on creating economic stability and attracting foreign investment. However despite the agreement, some quarters still feel the two will not properly work together.
   
   Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently called on Mugabe to resign saying his time was up and that with him a government of national unity “can not work.”
   
   The MDC leader won the elections in March last year but he failed to accumulate the required votes.
   
   Zimbabwe currently is battling with the cholera outbreak which has further been prolonged by the rainy season.
   
   According to latest reports, nearly 70,000 cases have been reported with over 3,500 people reported dead.

   ---

   ---

Reactions

1. Posted on Wednesday 11 February 2009 23:19

   ---

   NickCooper1976

   

   
   1 berichten
   Lid sinds February 2009

   ---

   This is progress, but at a price. Tsvangirai is taking a huge risk by joining with Mugabe, but if it brings a better life to the people in the long run, it will be worth it.
   
   I am a humble observer, and my satire piece in the link below basically says that Mugabe hasn't really changed and can't be trusted, but the MDC have suffered and will continue to suffer until he is gone. In the meantime they are very brave to have continued their struggle:
   
   http://thestupidtimes.blo...rai-broken-in-as-zimbabwe s-pm.html

   ---

   ---