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Tsvangirai takes office
as Zimbabwe premier
HARARE: Zimbabwe’s opposi-
tion leader Morgan Tsvangirai
was sworn in as prime minister
yesterday by old enemy Presi-
dent Robert Mugabe and vowed
to salvage the ruined economy.
Their power-sharing deal has
raised hopes among Zimbabweans
of an end to widespread hardship,
but bitter wrangling since they
signed their agreement in Sep-
tember has stirred doubts over
whether they can work together
to bring in aid and investment.
Tsvangirai, 56, was sworn in
by Mugabe, 84, who has ruled
with his Zanu-PF party since
independence from Britain in
1980. Tsvangirai gave a little
smile as he finished taking the
oath in front of Mugabe, who
displayed his usual confidence.
“I want to assure you that
this is the only workable ar-
rangement and I can assure you
that I and my party will give it our
utmost,” said Tsvangirai, who cut
his political teeth in the labour
movement as a mine foreman.
Mugabe said the parties should
build on the deal “by turning our
swords into ploughshares”.
Tsvangirai won a first round
presidential poll against Mugabe
last year but boycotted a sub-
sequent run-off over violence,
leading to deadlock that has
worsened a crisis marked by
hyper-inflation, food shortages
and a cholera epidemic.
He said rescuing the economy
would be a top priority.
“We must get the country
working again,” said Tsvangirai
in his inauguration address.
He called on the world to help
Zimbabwe recover. It is suffer-
ing unemployment above 90%,
prices double every day, half the
12 million population need food
aid and a cholera epidemic has
killed nearly 3,500 people.
But foreign investors and
Western donors have made it
clear money will come only when
a new democratic government
is formed and bold economic
reforms are taken.
The power-sharing pact left
Tsvangirai with the ministries
most responsible for addressing
10 years of economic decline,
including the finance ministry.
“The balance of power
favours Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
Tsvangirai will probably have
very little room to manoeuvre,
but over time he will become as
liable for the failures of the Zanu-
PF government,” said Aubrey
Matshiqi of South Africa’s Centre
for Policy Studies. – Reuters
theSun
Israeli rivals battle for power
after tight vote
JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Min- facing perhaps weeks of political
ister Tzipi Livni (pix) and hawkish uncertainty.
ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu An overall lurch to the right has
were locked in a battle for power made it more likely that Netanyahu
yesterday after a photo-finish elec- will return to the nation’s most
tion that could send peace talks into powerful post, but Livni immedi-
eXtra: limbo. ately started coalition talks, meeting
Treading Livni’s centrist yesterday with ultra-nationalist
Kadima party won Avigdor Lieberman.
lightly 28 seats in the “This is an opportunity for unity
in high 120-member that can promote issues that are
office parliament, just important for our two parties. They
one ahead of agreed to continue their contacts,”
pg 10-12 Netanyahu’s Livni’s office said after the meeting
Likud party, with the Yisrael Beitenu leader,
leaving the who has emerged as a kingmaker
country after Tuesday’s vote.
Lieberman, who planned to
meet with Netanyahu later in the
day, kept his cards close to his
chest. “We will clarify our positions
and will give our part to putting
together a cabinet as soon as pos-
sible,” the YNet News website
quoted him as saying.
Netanyahu already held talks
yesterday with Eli Yishai, head
of the religious Shas party,
| THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12 2009
which is a member of the current
government but has fallen out with
Livni over her refusal to keep the
future of Jerusalem out of Middle
East peace talks.
Hardline parties gained ground
on the back of the Gaza war and
security concerns, and the right’s
likely return to power could hamper
US-backed efforts to revive the falter-
ing Middle East peace negotiations.
Both Netanyahu – who became
Israel’s youngest prime minister in
1996 – and Livni swiftly laid claim
to the premiership.
“The people voted in their mass-
es. I can feel the great responsibility
to translate the power entrusted to
me into deeds and to unite the na-
tion,” Livni’s office quoted her as
saying yesterday.
Netanyahu told supporters on
Tuesday he was convinced he
would be able to form the next
government.
“I can unite all forces of this na-
tion and lead Israel.”
Under Israel’s political system,
it is the party considered best
able to form a coalition – and not
necessarily the winner of the most
seats – which will be tasked by
the president with forming a new
government. – AFP