Tsvangirai proposes deal with Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s opposition chief wants to be a powerful prime minister, but would leave the presidency – and command of the military – to Robert Mugabe to end his country’s protracted political crisis.

Morgan Tsvangirai outlined his proposal for resolving the contentious issue of who would lead any unity government in a speech to regional Cabinet ministers on the eve of a Southern African Development Community summit.

The summit opened with Mr Tsvangirai sitting in a prominent position on the floor, and Mr Mugabe at the head table with other presidents.

Mr Tsvangirai’s proposal, which he said his Movement for Democratic Change has presented in deadlocked negotiations with Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, would mean a major curbing of the powers Mr Mugabe has wielded since the country gained independence in 1980.

But it also would leave Mr Tsvangirai working closely with a leader he has reviled as a brutal dictator. And after months of attacks on opposition supporters blamed on soldiers and police, the prospect of Mr Mugabe remaining commander in chief was worrisome.

Elphas Mukonoweshuro, Mr Tsvangirai’s foreign policy adviser, acknowledged in an interview Saturday there was “a possibility of abuse,” but said regional leaders who were expected to endorse a deal could keep a check on Mr Mugabe.

The opposition may have little choice. Top military leaders have said publicly they would not recognise Mr Tsvangirai’s authority.