President Motlanthe to Witness Swearing in of Zimbabwean Cabinet in Harare

Pretoria – South African President and Chair of SADC Kgalema Motlanthe, accompanied by SADC Facilitator Thabo Mbeki, will on Friday 13 February 2009 witness the swearing in of the Zimbabwean cabinet in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The swearing in of a Cabinet follows the assumption by Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara the posts of Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister respectively on Wednesday 11 February 2009 in which Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers and South Africa’s Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma represented the country.  The swearing in of the Zimbabwean Cabinet on Friday will conclude the process of the formation of Zimbabwe’s inclusive government as agreed to in the Global Political Agreement facilitated by former President Thabo Mbeki.

President Motlanthe reiterated that these were momentous developments “as the people of Zimbabwe march towards national reconciliation, economic recovery, reconstruction and development.

“Ours as SADC and the rest of the international community therefore is to heed the voice of the Zimbabwean people and seek in word and deed to assist them as they begin the process of rebuilding their country and addressing a myriad of economic challenges facing their country,” concluded President Motlanthe.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

12 February 2009