Zimbabwe: Mugabe on annual leave

  1. Posted on Sunday 4 January 2009 - 16:21
    Sam Banda Junior
    Image of Sam Banda Junior
    Sam Banda Junior, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has begun his annual leave, a situation that would delay the formation of a formidable government. Mugabe is going on a month sabbatical in the far East - away from his political tensed and economically weak country.
    Mugabe
    The southern African country's media reports said Saturday that Mugabe has started preparations to form a government despite opposition objections but with his annual leave it means he would do this next month.

    According to reports Mugabe who is expected to remain president in the power sharing deal which was brokered by former South African president Thabo Mbeki in September is said to traditionally spend his annual leave in Far East.

    George Charamba, Mugabe's spokesman described the annual leave as more of a retreat than actual leave. "This is more of a retreat than actual leave. The President is very busy ... working on structures of an inclusive government which must come too soon," said Charamba.

    Zimbabwe is still in problems following the delay in forming a government of national unity and donors and several analysts have called for Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai to come to terms for the good of the country.

    The two have failed to come to terms over the deal due to disagreements on the sharing of cabinet positions. Tsvangirai is expected to be the Prime minister in the deal if successful.

    A Reuters report said Mugabe has fired nine ministers and three deputy ministers from his ZANU-PF party who lost their seats in March parliamentary elections.

    Zimbabwe the once mighty nation of Africa is in problems ranging from an increase in inflation, scarcity and high prices of food and an outbreak of Cholera which has killed over 1,000 people.

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