SW Radio Africa (London)

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Meets Defence And Security Ministers

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday held his first ever meeting with the country's Defence, Home Affairs and National Security ministers. There is speculation that he raised the issue of the incarceration of Roy Bennett, his nominee for a deputy ministerial post.

Bennett appeared in court in the eastern city of Mutare on Tuesday where he was formally charged. This was his first appearance in court since his arrest Friday.

James Maridadi, the spokesman for Tsvangirai, told us the Prime Minister met ZANU PF Ministers Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kembo Mohadi and Sydney Sekeramayi. Giles Mutsekwa, the co-minister for Home Affairs, was absent as he's still on party business outside the country.

Maridadi could not divulge what was said in the meeting; 'All I can tell you is that the Prime Minister's schedule right now is excruciating and torturous. He is meeting all the ministers telling them about his mission and vision for the new government.'

Earlier in the day all ministers attended a full cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Robert Mugabe. Maridadi said the meeting was cordial but did not discuss substantive issues.

'This was an inaugural cabinet meeting. Basically they were warming up to each other, the discussions were held in the spirit of togetherness, to advance the aims and objectives of the Global Political Agreement,' Maridadi said.

He added; 'I can safely tell you the Prime Minister is happy about it...the President is happy about it. Everyone in the cabinet wants this thing to work. It has dawned on everyone that the unity government is the country's only salvation. Without this thing, (inclusive government) then Zimbabwe as a country is dead.'

Meanwhile the Associated Press reports that the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC), a multiparty committee formed to ensure the coalition worked smoothly, was expected to report to Tsvangirai Wednesday on the arrests of Bennett and the other activists who are still in jail.

The news agency also reported that Tsvangirai met with Mugabe immediately after the cabinet meeting, to raise concerns about the 'credibility of the government' and the need for freedom of expression. Tsvangirai then met with the Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, to discuss the government's new foreign policy, as envisaged in the inclusive government.


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  • buddhamate
    Feb 17 2009, 16:26

    Motlanthe and others have said all is just peachey now in Zimbabwe .Sanctions against Zim should be lifted and the country can now get back to where it was in 1980.So Morgan you've done your job ,you can disappear now.There will be no white farmers or for that matter no farming, as all the lobster and caviar can be flown in. All the opposition to the much maligned poor Zanu-pf party faithful are safely locked up or are left to perish with disease and starvation.The need for schools and hospitals are no longer necessary as once travel sanctions are lifted the priveleged can use the best facilities on offer in the east anyway.No need for money in Zimbabwe because no one has got a job and the army has learnt that they can do without pay because they can directly tax the people.Morgan your work has finished here,so why dont you just hand yourself in to the police now and save them the unnecessary imposition of having to devise a charge of treason or similar to lock you up too.