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MDC minister arrested in Harare Rows mar Zimbabwe oath ceremony
(about 2 hours later)
A senior opposition official and ministerial nominee has been arrested in Zimbabwe just before a new power-sharing cabinet was sworn in. The swearing-in of Zimbabwe's new power-sharing cabinet has been marred by the arrest of one minister and a dispute over several others.
Roy Bennett, the MDC's choice to become deputy agriculture minister, was reportedly seized at a Harare airport. Roy Bennett, the MDC's choice to become deputy agriculture minister, was reportedly seized near a Harare airport just before the ceremony.
The white farmer, who lost his property under President Robert Mugabe's land reform programme, has previously reported death threats. Several extra Zanu-PF ministers of state then turned up to be sworn in.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe have agreed to form a coalition. The issue was only resolved after intense closed-door negotiations - and nearly a year after disputed polls.
Despite the arrest, Mr Mugabe swore in the new cabinet at State House in the capital, Harare. The new cabinet was sworn into office by President Robert Mugabe two and a half hours behind schedule. Mugabe may be part of the problem, but he's also part of the solution MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai class="" href="/1/hi/business/7885343.stm">Can Zimbabwe's economy be fixed?
Mugabe may be part of the problem, but he's also part of the solution MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai Can Zimbabwe's economy be fixed? However, it was delayed by two and a half hours in a row over the allocation of ministers.
Under the power-sharing agreement, President Mugabe's Zanu-PF is to have 15 posts and the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) 16.
But Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says an extra five Zanu-PF ministers of state turned up for the ceremony, and the issue was only resolved after intense closed-door negotiations.
One MDC official was quoted as saying that the additional Zanu-PF officials were junior ministers, who are due to be sworn in next week.One MDC official was quoted as saying that the additional Zanu-PF officials were junior ministers, who are due to be sworn in next week.
Controversial figure Under the power-sharing agreement, Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF is to have 15 posts and the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) 16, under Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Bumpy start
MDC spokesman Ian Makone said Mr Bennett was arrested at the small Charles Prince airport, north-west of the capital, Harare.MDC spokesman Ian Makone said Mr Bennett was arrested at the small Charles Prince airport, north-west of the capital, Harare.
On Thursday, Mr Bennett told the BBC that he was in hiding as the security services had issued an arrest warrant for him. On Thursday, Mr Bennett told the BBC that he was in hiding as the security services had issued an arrest warrant for him. KEY CABINET APPOINTMENTS Zanu-PF: Emmerson Mnangagwa, seen as a possible successor to Robert Mugabe, defence Sydney Sekeramayi, ex-defence minister, state security Joseph Made, ex-agricultural minister, agriculture Patrick Chinamasa, chief negotiator of power-sharing deal, justice Kembo Mohadi, former home affairs minister, home affairs MDC: Tendai Biti, lawyer and ex-student leader, finance Giles Mutsekwa, lawyer with a military background, home affairsHenry Madzorera, trained doctor, healthEric Matinenga, lawyer who defended Mr Tsvangirai on treason charges, constitutional affairsRoy Bennett, former farmer, arrested, deputy agriculture minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points
KEY CABINET APPOINTMENTS Zanu-PF: Emmerson Mnangagwa, seen as a possible successor to Robert Mugabe, defence Sydney Sekeramayi, ex-defence minister, state security Joseph Made, ex-agricultural minister, agriculture Patrick Chinamasa, chief negotiator of power-sharing deal, justice Kembo Mohadi, former home affairs minister, home affairs MDC: Tendai Biti, lawyer and ex-student leader, finance Giles Mutsekwa, lawyer with a military background, home affairsHenry Madzorera, trained doctor, healthEric Matinenga, lawyer who defended Mr Tsvangirai on treason charges, constitutional affairsRoy Bennett, former farmer, arrested, deputy agriculture minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7881582.stm">Full profile: Tendai Biti class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points The former MP has long been a controversial figure.
Mr Bennett, a former MP, has long been a controversial figure. A white farmer who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, he was in prison from October 2004 to June 2005.
He was in prison from October 2004 to June 2005 - a sentence imposed by other MPs after he pushed a government minister during an argument in parliament over land reform. The sentence was imposed by other MPs after he pushed a government minister during an argument in parliament over land reform.
He has only recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in exile in South Africa. He has only recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot against Mr Mugabe.
He fled Zimbabwe after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot against President Mugabe. A western diplomat described his arrest as a deliberate provocation by Mr Mugabe and a supreme act of bad faith and contempt, reports the BBC's Andrew Harding, who is in Zimbabwe despite a ban on the BBC reporting there.
Other MDC members who were arrested in connection with the same alleged plot were later released and charges dropped. Zimbabwe's messy experiment in power sharing is, as expected, getting off to a bumpy start, our correspondent says.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in Harare says Mr Bennett believes the latest development shows that Zanu-PF hardliners are trying to scupper the new coalition. Before the swearing-in ceremony, MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai told the BBC the country was "on its knees".
"They want us to walk away from this deal. We've just got to be smarter than them," he said.
Before the swearing-in ceremony, MDC leader and Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC the country was "on its knees".
He said the humanitarian situation needed to be tackled, schools re-opened and the cholera epidemic which has killed some 3,400 people ended.He said the humanitarian situation needed to be tackled, schools re-opened and the cholera epidemic which has killed some 3,400 people ended.
Tsvangirai: 'The country is on its knees, but we cannot solve everything' "We have to find a solution to the country's crisis," he said. "Mugabe may be part of the problem, but he's also part of the solution. I am sure the reverse will also apply to me from their side.
"We have to find a solution to the country's crisis," he said.
"Mugabe may be part of the problem, but he's also part of the solution. I am sure the reverse will also apply to me from their side.
"But we have reached the stage now where we say we have to have a negotiated settlement, for the sake of the people."
The economy is in meltdown, with the local currency virtually worthless and unemployment of some 90%.The economy is in meltdown, with the local currency virtually worthless and unemployment of some 90%.
RivalsRivals
Correspondents say Friday's hitches show how difficult it will be for the coalition to work.Correspondents say Friday's hitches show how difficult it will be for the coalition to work.
Many of the Zanu-PF ministers have served in cabinet since Mr Mugabe was first elected in 1980.Many of the Zanu-PF ministers have served in cabinet since Mr Mugabe was first elected in 1980.
Several MDC ministers have been beaten or arrested for their opposition to Mr Mugabe.Robert Mugabe (R) swore his rival, Mr Tsvangirai, into office on Wednesday Several MDC ministers have been beaten or arrested for their opposition to Mr Mugabe.
Zanu-PF's Emmerson Mnangagwa, the new defence minister, has long been seen as a potential successor to Mr Mugabe and was accused of links to the 2008 election violence against the MDC.Zanu-PF's Emmerson Mnangagwa, the new defence minister, has long been seen as a potential successor to Mr Mugabe and was accused of links to the 2008 election violence against the MDC.
Sydney Sekeramayi, a former defence minister, takes the state security ministry which controls the feared Central Intelligence Organisation.Sydney Sekeramayi, a former defence minister, takes the state security ministry which controls the feared Central Intelligence Organisation.
MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti takes on the enormous challenge of finance, while as Health Minister Henry Madzorera is now in charge of tackling the cholera outbreak.MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti takes on the enormous challenge of finance, while as Health Minister Henry Madzorera is now in charge of tackling the cholera outbreak.
The formation of the government has also gone ahead despite MDC concern about the fate of imprisoned activists.The formation of the government has also gone ahead despite MDC concern about the fate of imprisoned activists.
The MDC says more than 30 people, including 72-year-old man Fidelis Charamba, are still being held after being abducted and illegally detained.The MDC says more than 30 people, including 72-year-old man Fidelis Charamba, are still being held after being abducted and illegally detained.
They have been accused of subversion and recruiting fighters to overthrow Mr Mugabe - charges denied by the MDC.They have been accused of subversion and recruiting fighters to overthrow Mr Mugabe - charges denied by the MDC.