Tsvangirai names cabinet ministers

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary-General Tendai Biti (centre, in glasses) leaves the Magistrate's court in Harare February 6, 2009. He has been named finance minister in a unity government with President Robert Mugabe. Photo/REUTERS

HARARE, Tuesday

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has unveiled nominees for cabinet posts in the inclusive government with President Robert Mugabe ahead of his swearing in as Prime Minister on Wednesday.

The opposition's line-up contained names of hard liners and technocrats, which Mr Tsvangirai said were best placed to haul Zimbabwe out of its worsening economic and political crises.

"The road ahead is long but we believe we can and must succeed," he told journalists. "The team is marked by technical expertise and the nominees are men and women who will lead us through this transition."

Mr Tendai Biti, the secretary general for Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), freed from treason charges last Friday was nominated the Minister of Finance.

His appointment puts pressure on the country's central bank chief, Dr Gideon Gono to resign because of their well-publicised differences.

Mr Biti accuses Dr Gono of printing money to finance President Robert Mugabe's violent election campaigns and of wrecking the once prosperous economy through unorthodox policies.

The MDC leader also appointed a former army general to co-chair the Ministry of Home Affairs with a Zanu PF appointee.

"Once Zanu PF and our colleagues in the other MDC finalise their lists and their swearing is done, as the Prime Minister, I will have to define the mandate of all these ministers," he said.

A former white commercial farmer who was forced into exile after he was accused of plotting to kill Mr Mugabe was also included in Mr Tsvangirai's list as deputy minister for Agriculture.

Mr Roy Bennet who was jailed two years ago for assaulting the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Patrick Chinamasa is living in exile in neighbouring South Africa.

According to a Southern African Development Community (SADC) timeline, the ministers should be sworn on Friday.

Mr Mugabe and the Professor Arthur Mutambara of the smaller faction of the MDC were yet to finalise their lists yesterday.

The three parties on September 15 signed a power sharing deal many hope would rescue the country from its multifaceted problems.

Meanwhile, the failure by Mr Mugabe's government to release more than 50 MDC activists in jail since last year is threatening the swearing in of Mr Tsvangirai and his deputies' Wednesday.

There was a flurry of activity on Tuesday as negotiators tried to secure the release of the prisoners.

"We insist that the political prisoners and abductees should be released before we for the swearing tomorrow" (Wednesday), Mr Tsvangirai said.

State agents abducted the MDC activists last year on accusations that they were recruiting people to train as bandits in neighbouring Botswana.