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Biti gets key Zimbabwe ministry Biti gets key Zimbabwe ministry
(10 minutes later)
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has appointed Tendai Biti as finance minister in a unity government with President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has named Tendai Biti as finance minister in a unity government with President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Biti is secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe's main opposition party.Mr Biti is secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe's main opposition party.
Last week a Zimbabwean judge dropped treason charges against Mr Biti over an alleged coup plot, citing lack of progress in the case against him.Last week a Zimbabwean judge dropped treason charges against Mr Biti over an alleged coup plot, citing lack of progress in the case against him.
The joint cabinet in the new coalition government will be sworn in on Friday. The cabinet in the new coalition government will be sworn in on Friday.
Once in the job, Mr Biti would focus on creating economic stability and attracting foreign investment, said Mr Tsvangirai - who is himself set to become prime minister.
"This [finance] ministry's mandate is to create a stable economic environment for all Zimbabweans... and to establish Zimbabwe as a strong investment centre," Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference, according to Reuters news agency.
Mr Biti is one of Mr Mugabe's most trenchant and vocal critics, say observers.
Shortly after the treason charges were dropped against him, he renewed his commitment to "finish this job that we started of removing the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe".