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Zimbabwean President Mugabe Seen in Bid to Redirect Harare Power Flow


Sources said Mr. Mugabe has ordered Cabinet ministers to report to his two vice presidents instead of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

Political tensions within Zimbabwe's unity government are rising amid reports President Robert Mugabe has ordered Cabinet ministers to report to his two vice presidents instead of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

One source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed Cabinet Secretary Misheck Sibanda circulated a memorandum to that effect.

Under the September 2008 Global Political Agreement, President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai both have executive powers, but the division of those powers was poorly defined and has been much contested.

Tsvangirai spokesman James Maridadi told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that if such reports are true the apparent move to reduce the prime minister’s powers represents a breach of the spirit of the 2008 Global Political Agreement.

Political analyst John Makumbe of the University of Zimbabwe said the move may have been made to punish Mr. Tsvangirai for not doing more to bring about the lifting of Western targeted sanctions.

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