Signaling divisions within Zimbabwe's chronically troubled unity government according to some observers, five ministries headed by ZANU-PF ministers have not been submitting monthly progress reports this year to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who leads the dominant formation of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Some see the failure by ministries to file reports as defiance of Mr. Tsvangirai.
Ministries concerned include Foreign Affairs, headed by Simbarashe Mbengegwi, Media and Information, under Webster Shamu, Lands, under Herbert Murerwa, Tourism headed by Walter Mzembi, and Home Affairs, headed by Co-Ministers Kembo Mohadi of ZANU-PF and Theresa Makone of Mr. Tsvangirai’s own MDC formation.
Monthly reports from the country's 36 ministries help the prime minister ensure that the government’s work program for the year is on track.
Minister of State Jameson Timba, a senior aide to Mr. Tsvangirai, played down the issue, blaming bureaucracy for the delays in submission.
Zimbabwe's power-sharing government has been shaken by disagreement and divisions since its launch in early 2009 under the terms of the Global Political Agreement signed in late 2008. The country embarked on power sharing under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community as a way out of the political impasse left by elections which left hundreds dead and President Robert Mugabe's legitimacy in question.
