PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has sworn in
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister and Thokozani Khupe
and Professor Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation as Deputy
Prime Ministers.see video (courtesy of the BBC)The oath of
office was delivered by the President shortly after midday local time,
pursuant to the broad-based agreement signed on Sept. 15 last year.
According to Section 20.1.3(j) of the Constitutional Amendment Number
19, the President, not the Chief Justice, swears in the Prime Minister
and the two Deputy Prime Ministers.
The cabinet in the new inclusive Government will be sworn in on Friday.
Implementation
of the Zimbabwe power-sharing deal came after sustained media efforts
from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries and
the Facilitator, former South African President, Thabo Mbeki. Critics
say the formation of the inclusive Government is a triumph for African
diplomacy.
The historic ceremony was attended by regional Sadc leaders including
Swaziland's King Mswati III, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza,
former South African president and facilitator Thabo Mbeki, SA foreign
minister Nkosazana Dhlamini-Zuma, among others.
Sadc executive secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao and the Chairperson of the
Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping also attended the ceremony.
South Africa's African National Congress party (ANC) immediately issued a statement after the swearing-in ceremony.
"On this historic occasion, the ANC congratulates leaders of both Zanu
PF and MDC for putting the interest of the people of Zimbabwe and that
country first. We are confident that leaders of the multiparty
government will make use of this opportunity to work together to
advance the needs of the Zimbabwean people."
"Not only is the development important for Zimbabwe, but has
far-reaching political and economic implications for Southern Africa
and the entire African continent. It will make a certain contribution
to building peace and prosperity."
"The ANC calls on the international community to assist in the reconstruction and economic recovery of Zimbabwe."
The negotiators to the power-sharing agreement worked to a Sadc timeline which will come to an end on Friday with the swearing in of Cabinet ministers.
SADC TIMELINE30 January 2009: Activation of, and first meeting of, the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC), provided for in the Global Political Agreement to, among other things, elect chairpesons;
January – February 4: Enactment of Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill
February 5: Creation of posts of Prime Minister and Deputy PM
February 11: Swearing in of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers
February 13: Appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Cabinet) 
