Zimbabwe Deal Signed

Ten Regional heads of state and government from Southern Africa were in Harare on Monday 15 September 2008, to witness the signing of the landmark power sharing deal by Robert Mugabe of ZANU PF, Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC and Arthur Mutambara of the break away faction of the MDC. Under the agreement, which will be possible through Constitutional Amendment 19 to be pushed through parliament soon, Robert Mugabe will remain president and head of state chairing cabinet and in control of the military. Morgan Tsvangirai will become Executive Prime Minister chairing a council of ministers that will supervise cabinet and in control of the police. Arthur Mutambara will become deputy Prime Minister. Morgan Tsvangirai will also nominate a second deputy Prime Minister. The deal also seeks to establish a 31 member cabinet comprising 31 ministers, 15 from ZANU PF and 13 from the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai and 3 from the faction led by Arthur Mutambara. This will effectively become the biggest cabinet the country has ever had since independence.