Tsvangirai Threatens to Withdraw from Power Sharing Deal

Zimbabwean Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has threatened to withdraw from the country’s power-sharing deal after President Robert Mugabe allocated all contentious ministries to his ruling party. Tsvangirai told 8,000 supporters at a Sunday rally in Harare that Mugabe’s unilateral usurpation of the disputed ministries of defence, home affairs, foreign affairs, justice, local government and information was clear evidence of his non-commitment to the September 15 coalition accord. Tsvangirai, who won a March 27 first round presidential poll but pulled out of a subsequent run-off citing violence against his supporters, however said he was ready to renegotiate the whole deal. The power sharing deal sought to retain Mugabe as president with Tsvangirai as prime minister.[PE]