JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA–Zimbabwe's opposition chief would accept the prime minister's post and concede the presidency – and command of the military – to Robert Mugabe to settle a political crisis in his country, the Associated Press learned yesterday.
Morgan Tsvangirai outlined his proposal for resolving the contentious issue of who would lead any unity government in Zimbabwe in a speech Friday to regional cabinet ministers gathered for the Southern African Development Community summit. Associated Press obtained a copy of the speech yesterday, the day the summit opened.
Tsvangirai's proposal, which he said his Movement for Democratic Change presented during the deadlocked negotiations with Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, would mean a major curbing of the powers Mugabe has wielded since the country gained independence in 1980.
But it also would leave Tsvangirai working closely with a leader he has reviled as a brutal dictator. After months of attacks on opposition supporters blamed on soldiers and police, the prospect of Mugabe remaining commander in chief was worrisome to some.
Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, Tsvangirai's foreign policy adviser, acknowledged in an interview yesterday there was "a possibility of abuse," but said regional leaders were expected to endorse a deal that could keep a check on Mugabe.
The opposition may have little choice. Top military leaders have said publicly they would not recognize Tsvangirai's authority.
"This whole process is about sharing power," Mukonoweshuro said, adding, "Mr. Mugabe will be head of state and Mr. Tsvangirai head of government with executive power."
The question of Mugabe's role has been a major sticking point in power-sharing talks, with the long-time president reportedly refusing to yield any power and publicly mocking Tsvangirai's claim to have the mandate to lead Zimbabwe.
