Staff ReporterNelson Chamisa the Zimbabwean poosition leader has reportedly given President Emmerson Mnangagwa a list of demands that include the sacking of both recently appointed deputy presidents.
Sources close to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader have said Chamisa was driving a hard bargain that was “bordering on ridiculousness” as he demands the collapsing of the presidium.
Chamisa was said to have demanded the sacking of deputy presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi before he can consider working with Mnangagwa.
He has also demanded the disbandment of the country’s electoral commission and the restructuring of its security forces.
Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda has, however, scoffed at the claims, saying the MDC leader would not “make such demands [to] a loser”.
“He won the elections. So, there is no way he can do such,” Sibanda was quoted as saying.
This came amid reports that Mnangagwa was delaying the appointment of his Cabinet to give talks between the two rivals a chance.
A hand of friendship
Chamisa was offered to play a key role in the country’s recovery as western diplomats were piling pressure on both leaders to find solutions to their disagreements.
Zimbabwe has been without a cabinet since August 26 when Mnangagwa took the oath of office following a protracted Constitutional Court application challenging his victory.
Sources were quoted as saying the president had extended a hand of friendship to the opposition leader and was not in a hurry to pick a cabinet in the hope that Chamisa would agree to working with him.
The sources said Zimbabwe was likely to emulate the British system in which both leader of the opposition and parliamentary chief whip are paid by government.
But, the state-owned Chronicle newspaper has quoted Vice President Chiwenga as saying the president was waiting for members of Parliament to be sworn in before making his appointment.
He said a cabinet would only be announced after the swearing of legislators, which was expected this week.
