Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has signed a historic power-sharing deal with his long-time political rival, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The two smiled and shook hands at the ceremony in the capital, Harare, attended by African dignitaries.
Mr Tsvangirai said the agreement provided the best hope for Zimbabwe and called on President Mugabe to work together to implement the deal. Mr Mugabe said he was committed to national unity and would do “his best”.
Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara – leader of a breakaway faction of Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) – signed the agreement in front of some 3,000 invited guests in Harare’s International Conference Centre.
The signatories were introduced in the terms used in the agreement – Mr Mugabe as president and Mr Tsvangirai as prime minister. To rapturous applause, the leaders shook hands after exchanging signed copies.
Mr Mugabe accused the former colonial power – the UK – of meddling in his country’s affairs by calling for a “regime change” and by imposing sanctions. He received loud jeers when he said opposition parties in Zimbabwe and other African nations using any means, “including violence”, in order to achieve power.
He said there were “lots of things” in the deal that neither leader liked but that they would work together to “find our way”. “As long as salient principles are recognised, there will be room for more agreement,” Mr Mugabe said.
In his speech, Mr Tsvangirai said the agreement was a “product of painful compromises” and that it did not provide “an instant cure” to the fortunes of Zimbabwe.
“I’ve signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful and prosperous democratic Zimbabwe,” he said.
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Filed under: AFRICAN NEWS, AFRICAN POLITICS, ZIMBABWE, ROBERT MUGABE | Tagged: AFRICAN POLITICS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, ROBERT MUGABE, SOUTH AFRICA, ZIMBABWE
