Zimbabwe's Prime Minister pledges 'new chapter'

[belfastuniguy 18]

Zimbabwe PM pledges 'new chapter'

Morgan Tsvangirai takes the oath at a ceremony with Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, has vowed to stabilise the country's shattered economy and end political violence.

The former opposition leader addressed thousands of cheering supporters after being sworn-in under a power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Mugabe, who administered the oath to his long-standing rival, has promised to co-operate in the unity government.

Zimbabwe faces rampant inflation, a cholera epidemic and 90% unemployment.

The international community has promised additional aid to the country only if real changes take place.

Diagram of power-sharing agreement

Addressing a rally at a stadium in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said the government had to "get the country working again".

"The first priority is to stabilise the economy," he said. "The economic collapse has forced millions of our most able to flee the country. This must end today."

The jovial mood of the people of Zimbabwe in the streets of Harare is just marvellous to watch... I think even the police are happy Benson Gotore, Harare Your views on new Zimbabwe PM High emotion for MDC supporters?

Calling for an end to political violence, he said Zimbabwe could "no longer afford brother against brother, because one happened to have a different political opinion".

He said the government would make food "available and affordable", and promised to focus on the cholera crisis that has killed more than 3,400 people.

All public sector workers would be paid in foreign currency, he added, without saying where the money would come from.

"The most important issue is that we are opening a new chapter for our country¿ there can be no turning back on the political agreement which each party has signed," the new prime minister said.

Mr Mugabe, 84, who has ruled Zimbabwe with his Zanu-PF party since independence from Britain in 1980, said he would co-operate with Mr Tsvangirai.

"I offer my hand of friendship and co-operation, warm co-operation and solidarity in the service of our great country Zimbabwe," he said.

'Lurking figure'

There has been political turmoil in Zimbabwe since last March, when Mr Tsvangirai, who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won the first round of a presidential election.

He refused to take part in a subsequent run-off in protest against attacks on his supporters.

STATE OF ZIMBABWE Five million people - almost half population - need food aid Hyperinflation Unemployment of 90% About 3,400 people killed in cholera outbreak Tsvangirai's tough choice Send us your comments Hope amid Zimbabwe's reality

A final deal on power-sharing was reached in January, after Mr Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe following an absence of more than two months for fresh talks with Mr Mugabe.

The cabinet in the new coalition government will be sworn in on Friday.

There is deep scepticism about whether it will work, says the BBC's southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, in Johannesburg.

At best it will be a transitional arrangement leading eventually to a new constitution and fresh elections, he says.

Zimbabweans also reacted with cautious optimism.

Harare businessman Ian Stephens said it was too early to celebrate.

"It depends on how co-operative Mugabe is and whether he can be trusted. But he no longer has absolute power and that could be the turning point," he said.

'Step forward'

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband welcomed Mr Tsvangirai's inauguration as a "step forward", but voiced concern that Mr Mugabe remained as president.

"While Morgan Tsvangirai is acknowledging the crowds, behind him is a lurking figure and that figure is President Mugabe, who has tyrannised that country and bought it to its knees," he said.

The international community stood ready to offer additional aid to Zimbabwe but it depended on the actions of the new government, he said.

A US State Department spokesman congratulated Mr Tsvangirai but said sanctions would stay until President Mugabe showed he was sharing power.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said Mr Tsvangirai's swearing in "is a vindication that our approach to the crisis of Zimbabwe all along has been correct, despite scepticism in certain quarters".

Mr Motlanthe called on the international community to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe and turn its attention to Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis.

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[Orchid22 1]

I'll believe it when I see it. Corruption plays a major role in African politics. Unless the international community gets more involved {and I mean, really involved}, things will stay the same.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Hopefully this is the begining of real change.

Im not holding my breath though.

A more likely senario is Mr Tsvangirai  will be found dead soon.

[Odainsaker 2,137]

So...who exactly controls the military, security, and police forces, and whose supporters fill those command structures? That determines who has the real power. Be careful, Mr. Tsvangirai, and watch your back...

They'll wait till the foreign money is flowing back in, and the PM will have his mysterious helicopter crash.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[buildsolid 4]

Originally posted by: Odainsaker So...who exactly controls the military, security, and police forces, and whose supporters fill those command structures? That determines who has the real power. Be careful, Mr. Tsvangirai, and watch your back...

quote>

Mugabe controls the military, which is a bad, while Tsvangirai will control the police. How people would discriminate the two, i don't know, even when we left there was not a difference, army kicked you out while the police did nothing?? So Hopefully they can sort themselves out.

[duack 14]

To fix all of Zimbabwe, you only need to do two things. 

1 Add water (relatively easy)

2 Get rid of Mugabe (not so easy)

If only someone could do the second one, then Zimbabwe could become a developed nation after about 30-40 years.

[M-SIL 2]

@duack

Dont forget to add privatization of agriculture land too. That alone should to slow or stop there hyperinflation issue.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 1, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Odainsaker 2,137]

Well, it didn't take long...

Reports are a car carrying new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his wife fatally collided with an aid truck.  Ms. Tsvangirai was killed, and the prime minister hospitalized with head and neck injuries.  President Robert Mugabe was kind enough to visit him in the hospital and pay respects.

A great tragedy with unnervingly convenient timing.  It may or may not have been accidental, especially in light of the reported shambles that remain of Zimbabwe's road system, but the effect given the atmosphere of intimidation will be the same nonetheless.  Mr. Tsvangirai will likely emerge from the hospital to find that his allies and supporters have been arrested or liquidated in his absense.

Ah well, what can we say or do...that international humanitarian mission in Sudan's Darfur region isn't meeting with any greater success either.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: duack To fix all of Zimbabwe, you only need to do two things. 

1 Add water (relatively easy)quote>

Powdered developed nation in a can. Just add water.

[fukuda 351]

Originally posted by: Duke87Just add water. quote>

Cholera infected water, of course

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Well, it didn't take long...

Reports are a car carrying new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his wife fatally collided with an aid truck.  Ms. Tsvangirai was killed, and the prime minister hospitalized with head and neck injuries.  President Robert Mugabe was kind enough to visit him in the hospital and pay respects.

A great tragedy with unnervingly convenient timing.  It may or may not have been accidental, especially in light of the reported shambles that remain of Zimbabwe's road system, but the effect given the atmosphere of intimidation will be the same nonetheless.  Mr. Tsvangirai will likely emerge from the hospital to find that his allies and supporters have been arrested or liquidated in his absense.

Ah well, what can we say or do...that international humanitarian mission in Sudan's Darfur region isn't meeting with any greater success either.quote>

I doubt if that "aid truck" was a real one, and that "accident" really was an accident. Mr. Tsvangirai had better watch out: he might be next.

To fix all of Zimbabwe, you only need to do two things. 

1 Add water (relatively easy)

2 Get rid of Mugabe (not so easy) quote>

And 3, blow up the printing presses at their central bank. Like Fidel Castro's reign recently, I believe the only thing preventing a rebellion is the dictator's old age. He's got to die sometime.

Powdered developed nation in a can. Just add water. quote>

Reminds me of those Billy Mays ads. "Powdered developed nation in a can! Just add water, and watch it turn into a developed country! It's like magic! Call now, and we'll double the offer. That's right, you get two developed nations in a can, and two cans of water, all for just $19.95!"

[buildsolid 4]

Originally posted by: Patricius Maximus

I doubt if that "aid truck" was a real one, and that "accident" really was an accident. Mr. Tsvangirai had better watch out: he might be next.

quote>

That was the attempt to kill him, mugabe said a tyre burst on the truck and swerved and hit the middle car (yeh right) anyway this is not the first time this has happened, Mugabe did this before when he went into power in 1980, got his opposition to join his party in joint-leadership, and he magically died in a car accident. coincidence...... i think so.

[belfastuniguy 18]

I believe it was an accident. The British and Americans have confirmed it was a truck from one of their joint aid operations. I was suspicious when I first heard, but then I saw images of the road and I'm not surprised....so in a strange way the years of complete and utter neglect under Mugabe led to the roads being in such a state which led to the accident. Kinda poetic in a strange way.

I feel deeply sorry for him, losing his wife, who has for years been an absolute bedrock of support during all the violence and political persecution. I'm sure he is absolutely devastated, so I wish him well during his period of rest in Botswana and only hope he can carry on the slow reforms that Zimbabwe so desperately needs. To be honest, the in-action of Africa is an total disgrace, but sadly something I have come to expect from a largely failed continent....a few good examples exist, but barely a handful. The future of Africa seems confined to continued tribal violence, horrendous poverty, political corruption and generation killing disease. Africa should be ashamed of itself and so should western governments not getting involved for the fear of being called imperialists. I'd rather they do something than nothing at all. Because in the end, we all suffer the consequences, especially in Europe.

[aiumkastarkius 0]

last time i checked their inflation was like 200 quintillion percent or something crazy