THE African Union has commended the deal signed by President Robert Mugabe and the two leaders of the Movement for Democratic Change and said it marks a “turning point” in the economic recovery and reconstruction of Zimbabwe.
In a statement emailed to the media yesterday the Chairman of the regional group which endorsed the efforts of President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa as mediator in the just-ended talks, Jean Ping said the power-sharing deal “marks a turning point in the efforts aimed at promoting reconciliation, stability and fostering conditions conducive for the recovery of their country.”
Ping, who is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia urged the international community to support and respect the implementation of the agreement and praised the “leadership, skillful diplomacy and tireless efforts'' of President Mbeki who was asked by the regional South African Development Community (Sadc) to facilitate the talks and endorsed by the AU.
The historic agreement paving way for an all-inclusive government was signed on September 11 in Harare between President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDCs leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, ended a six-month talks deadlock.
The new deal will help resolve the current economic crisis in the country and will bring the rival parties to work together for the first time in almost 10 years..
Under the agreement, the leader of the main faction of the MDC, Tsvangirai, will become prime minister, heading a council of ministers, according to a statement by a Senator from the smaller faction of the opposition group.
Mutambara, who heads the smaller breakaway faction is tipped to be one of two Deputy Prime Ministers.
The precise details of the deal are still emargoed from the media and the public until the formal signing ceremony is conducted tomorrow (Monday) at 10AM local time. Invited dignitaries from the African region and the rest of the world were invited to witness the signing ceremony.
