Zimbabwe

Mugabe welcomes power-sharing plan, MDC to decide Friday

Article published on the 2009-01-27 Latest update 2009-01-27 16:28 TU

Traders by a Mugabe poster in Harare
(Photo: Reuters)

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he hopes for a "new chapter" in his country's history after accepting southern African politicians' plan for sharing power with his opponents in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition group is to decide its stance at a leadership meeting on Friday.

"We hope that this will open up a new chapter in our political relations in the country and in structures of government," said Mugabe at Harare airport after returning from the emergency summit that came up with the plan.

On Tuesday regional leaders in the South African Development Community laid out a timeline for the formation of a national unity government.

The MDC declared that the plan falls "far short of our expectations" but declined to say whether it accepted it.

For the first time it will submit the proposal to its highest decision-making body, which will meet on Friday.

"We will look at the concerns that the MDC raised regarding governors and other appointments," said Mugabe.

The MDC is unhappy about the allocation of ministries, the appointment of key government positions, the release of jailed activists and a definition of national Security Council legislation.