MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai has insisted that the release of all the political prisoners at Chikurubi Maximum Prison remains a vital issue.

He told a news conference in Harare on Tuesday that the detainees, many of them in custody for more than 3 months, should be freed before he is sworn in as Prime Minister on Wednesday.

However, journalist Angus Shaw said the MDC leader would not commit himself to what he would do, in the event this did not happen.

The journalist said it was doubtful that Tsvangirai would not go ahead with being sworn in as Prime Minister, as he was in too deep and all the arrangements for the inauguration have already been made. Tsvangirai is expected to be formally appointed in a private ceremony in the morning and then address thousands of supporters at the Glamis Stadium in Harare around midday. The swearing in of the 31 ministerial government is expected Friday.

Meanwhile a group of civil and MDC activists, including Jestina Mukoko, are expected to appear in court for a remand hearing on the day of the inauguration. A second group, including the MDC director of security Chris Dhlamini, are expected to appear in court next Monday.

Shaw said Tsvangirai did state that negotiations for the release of the political detainees were at an advanced stage. The Prime Minister designate implied at the press conference that ZANU PF no longer had complete and absolute control.

The MDC is concerned that the Joint Operations Command is not happy with the power sharing deal and intends to continue with intimidation of its supporters. In a recent incident, detainees were not produced after the prisons commissioner, Major-General Paradzai Zimondi, refused to hand them over. As a member of JOC Zimondi helped organise the terror campaign during the elections last year and also recently broke up a hearing on the release of some of the detainees by disrupting the court session.

At his press conference Tsvangirai also introduced his nominees for the cabinet. He confirmed the MDC will co-chair the contentious Home Affairs Ministry and appointed retired army major Giles Mutsekwa as the MDC Minister for this ministry that controls Zimbabwe's unruly police force. Tsvangirai also announced the MDC will deputise in six key ministries that will be headed by ZANU PF ministers.

The party was given critical deputy minister-ship in the Agriculture, Defence, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Women's Affairs and Local Government Ministries.

Meanwhile Human rights groups have called on the new inclusive government to prioritise human rights and the humanitarian crisis.

Amnesty International issued a five point plan urging the new government to put human rights on top of the agenda and for the politicians to demonstrate a commitment to human rights in their first 100 days in power.

Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International's Zimbabwe expert, said: "The deteriorating economic and social conditions must also be a priority for this government. The people of Zimbabwe urgently need food, housing, essential health care, safe drinking water, sanitation and education."

"If the government is unable to deliver these basic necessities, it will have to seek international cooperation and assistance and remove unnecessary restrictions," Mawanza said in a statement.

More than half the population relies on food aid and the humanitarian crisis has been made worse by a deadly cholera epidemic that has killed well over 3 000 people and infected more than 69,000 people.

Oxfam has also issued a statement urging instant attention to the desperate needs of the population. "We hope the government of national unity can prioritise the humanitarian crisis and mobilize all the resources it can to make swift recovery possible while working to bring broader stability to the country", said Oxfam's country director in Zimbabwe, Peter Mutoredzanwa. They also urged the new government to create space for the active engagement of civil society in partnership to rebuild Zimbabwe.