afrol News, 29 September - Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe said new unity government will be formed before end of week, also denying reports of deadlocked talks with opposition over key ministers.

"We will be setting up government by the end of the week," Mr Mugabe said on his return from United Nations general assembly meeting in New York.

A power sharing agreement signed between Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai brought hope that political stability could reverse Zimbabwe's economic crisis, but so far, Zimbabweans have not seen positive development.

"We discussed the ministries before I left. Only four remain, but there is no deadlock," Mr Mugabe said.

Mr Tsvangirai on Saturday warned that Zimbabwe urgently needed to form a new government to ensure food supplies and prevent starvation in a country where many struggle to survive under weight of hyperinflation last recorded at 11.2 million percent, the highest in the world.

Under the deal, Mr Mugabe retains presidency, while Mr Tsvangirai will chair a council of ministers supervising the cabinet.

Arthur Mutambara, who heads a small faction of opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is also taking part in negotiations and is set to be one of two deputy prime ministers.

"We should never tolerate interference in the domestic affairs of our country. Any country which does that declares itself an enemy of Zimbabwe," he said.

Pointing to divisions in his ruling ZANU-PF, Mr Mugabe said power-sharing talks followed the loss of March elections to Mr Tsvangirai.

"We had to have these talks because when we went to vote in March, some of you remained in bed instead of going out to vote. Some of you voted wrongly," he said. "We were not united."

Mr Tsvangirai's MDC will get 13 cabinet posts, and a breakaway faction of the MDC, led by Arthur Mutamabara, will be handed three positions, giving combined opposition a narrow majority.

Mr Mugabe will chair the cabinet, which decides on government policy. His rival, Mr Tsvangirai, will chair a council of ministers, which implements policy.

The president also keeps control of military, while MDC wants to direct police.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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