WORLD> Africa
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WORLD> Africa
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Mugabe cedes some power in Zimbabwe deal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-16 09:39 HARARE, Zimbabwe -- President Robert Mugabe ceded some power in Zimbabwe for the first time in 28 years, signing a power-sharing deal Monday with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai amid questions on how the fierce enemies will work together to fix the collapsing economy.
With some victims of state-sponsored violence still in casts or in jail, Tsvangirai acknowledged it was important to remember the past and honor fallen comrades. But he urged his countrymen to join him in working to build "a new Zimbabwe." Mugabe, who has never acknowledged the onslaught of state-sponsored violence on his opponents, said: "Whatever happened is history. Let us look into the future and craft a way." Outside the convention center, supporters of the bitterly divided parties lobbed stones at each other. Police fired warning shots and baited attack dogs. But they were restrained and did not fire tear gas, raising hopes the repression of the past is getting under control. "Morgan is now in charge! Now we will see change!" a group of Tsvangirai's supporters yelled joyously at a journalist. For them, it seemed a great victory for Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, one that promises hope they can put food on the table. But while Mugabe may be relaxing his iron hold after 28 years of autonomous rule, political observers say the signing of the power-sharing deal is not a victory for democracy in Africa. Under the deal, Mugabe cedes some power to Tsvangirai, who is now prime minister. But Tsvangirai reports to Mugabe, who remains president and head of the Cabinet where his party has most seats, 15 to 13 for Tsvangirai and three for Arthur Mutambara, leader of a faction that broke away from Tsvangirai's party. Zimbabwe's politicians began discussions Monday on how to share Cabinet positions. For the first time, though, Mugabe is not autonomous. He must consult the prime minister before making decisions like appointing judges or dismissing parliament. Mugabe, 84, has been in power since independence in 1980 and went from being praised as a liberator who freed the former British colony from minority white rule to being vilified as an autocrat. He and Tsvangirai, 56, have been enemies for a decade, and Tsvangirai has been jailed, beaten, tortured and tried for treason, charges that were dismissed in court. Political observers are raising concerns about an emerging trend in Africa, one encouraging defeated rulers to cling to power through unity governments. "There is a worrying phenomenon of more power-sharing deals," said Cheryl Hendricks, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies. "It shows that elections are not the way to get to power." |
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