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Zimbabwe rivals to sign agreement Zimbabwe rivals in historic pact
(20 minutes later)
An historic power-sharing deal is due to be signed in Zimbabwe, aimed at ending a prolonged political crisis. An historic power-sharing deal is being signed in Zimbabwe, aimed at ending the country's prolonged political crisis.
Leaks of last week's agreement suggest that Robert Mugabe will remain president and retain control of the army, but his powers will be reduced. The signing is taking place at a ceremony in the capital, Harare, attended by several African leaders.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will be the new PM with substantial responsibilities, including police. Leaks of last week's agreement suggest that Robert Mugabe will remain president, and retain control of the military, but with reduced powers.
However, the proposed agreement remains fragile at this stage, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Zimbabwe. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will be the new PM with substantial responsibilities, including policing.
The deal opens the way for donors to restore funding to revive Zimbabwe's economy - the fastest-shrinking in the world. The breakthrough came late on Thursday after months of difficult negotiations mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki.
'Brutalized'
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana says a decision on extending sanctions against Zimbabwean officials has been postponed.
"The sanctions for the moment will not be taken today [Monday]. The decision will probably be taken in October," he said, reports Reuters news agency.
REPORTED DEAL Robert Mugabe: PresidentHeads armed forcesChairs cabinetZanu-PF has 15 ministers Morgan Tsvangirai: Prime ministerChairs council of ministersControls police forceMDC has 16 ministers - 3 from smaller faction Muted reaction to Zimbabwe dealZimbabwean readers' viewsREPORTED DEAL Robert Mugabe: PresidentHeads armed forcesChairs cabinetZanu-PF has 15 ministers Morgan Tsvangirai: Prime ministerChairs council of ministersControls police forceMDC has 16 ministers - 3 from smaller faction Muted reaction to Zimbabwe dealZimbabwean readers' views
The power-sharing deal is expected to be signed at a ceremony in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, attended by several African leaders. No details were given but Mr Mbeki said the agreement would be made public on Monday.
The leadership of both Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF endorsed the deal over the weekend, local media report.The leadership of both Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF endorsed the deal over the weekend, local media report.
The MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 seats, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have the remaining 15, according to the leaks. As prime minister, Tsvangirai is expected to chair a council of ministers which is responsible for the day-to-day managing of the country's affairs.
Last week, MDC chairman and Zimbabwe's parliamentary speaker Lovemore Moyo told the BBC that although his party was pleased with the deal, it had been a compromise. According to the leaks, the MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 ministers, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have the remaining 15.
Some members have called it a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available.Some members have called it a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available.
David Coltart, an MP from the smaller MDC faction, said on Friday that most MDC members who are due to become ministers "have at some stage in the last nine years been brutalized on the instructions of those they will now have to work with". 'A new page'
The MDC accuses the army and Zanu-PF of organising a campaign of violence against opposition activists to ensure victory in the June presidential run-off. The deal opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's collapsing economy, where inflation is at more than 11,000,000%.
"Zimbabwe remains highly polarized and it will take statesmanship on all sides to make this work," he said in an e-mail to his supporters. The BBC's Allan Little in Johannesburg says Morgan Tsvangarai's trump card was that he alone could attract the foreign-funded reconstruction effort that Zimbabwe needs.
Mr Tsvangirai and President Mugabe have not commented on the agreement. But he also knows that the foreign donor countries will want to see hard evidence - and soon - that power really has shifted away from Robert Mugabe, our correspondent says.
The BBC's Adam Mynott says the deal appears to give Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai roughly equal power. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a decision on lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean officials had been postponed until October.
Our correspondent says the devil will lie in the detail, and in the ability of the two men and the power blocks under them to wield genuine authority. Mr Solana said the EU needed to study the details of the power-sharing agreement but that he expected it to open "a new page" for Zimbabwe.
International donors have said they would resume financial aid for Zimbabwe's collapsing economy if the opposition MDC is given a genuine share of power.
Mbeki's optimism
Negotiations started at the end of July, but stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai - bitter rivals for a decade.
The breakthrough came last Thursday after four days of talks mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki in Harare.
Mr Mbeki said the two sides had agreed to form an inclusive government.
He said: "I am absolutely certain that the leadership of Zimbabwe is committed to implementing these agreements."
Zimbabwe has the fastest shrinking economy in the world with annual inflation of more than 11,000,000%.
Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, won a controversial presidential run-off election in June.Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, won a controversial presidential run-off election in June.
He ran unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence.He ran unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence.
In the first round of the presidential election in March, Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe, but official results say he did not pass the 50% threshold for outright victory.
/> 		In the first round of the presidential election in March, Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe, but official results say he did not pass the 50% threshold for outright victory.
Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you believe the power sharing deal will end the country's political crisis? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you believe the power sharing deal will end the country's political crisis? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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