Mugabe now names interim Government

Picture:Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has appointed an interim cabinet, a few days after he fired nine ministers for failing to secure parliamentary seats for his ruling Zanu PF in last year's elections.

Mr Mugabe who has taken a month long vacation amid mounting concerns over delays in the formation of a unity government with the opposition last weekend relieved nine ministers and three deputy ministers of their duties.

The state media reported on Wednesday that he had replaced them with Zanu PF Senators and MPs pending the formation of the new government now expected at the end of next month. The appointment of Zanu PF ministers on an acting capacity might be the clearest sign yet that Mr Mugabe may act on his threat to form a new government without the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations.

There are reports that a meeting between Mr Mugabe and his opposition rivals was likely in the next few days after both MDC leaders Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara insisted on it in what could be the last push to form the power sharing government.

The two rejected an invitation by the 84-year-old leader to be sworn in as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively saying the parties still needed to "iron out outstanding matters." Mr Mugabe's spokesman has said the veteran leader who traditionally spends his vacation in Asia would be in Zimbabwe most of the time working on the formation of a new government. "This is more of a retreat than actual leave," Mr George Charamba, his spokesman said. "The President is very busy working on structures of an inclusive government which must come too soon." Mr Mugabe and the two MDC leaders signed a power-sharing pact on September 15 but it has been held up over a row over cabinet posts.

Under the deal, the long time ruler would remain head of state while Mr Tsvangirai would be in charge of government business. But Mr Tsvangirai MDC says a new government cannot be formed because the ruling Zanu PF allocated itself powerful ministries and relegated the opposition to a junior partner.

Zimbabwe has been without a substantive government since March 29 after the ruling Zanu PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence. Mr Mugabe in power since 1980 agreed to share power after a disputed June 27 presidential run-off election where he ran alone was rejected by a host of African leaders as a fraud.