Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has started the process of forming an inclusive government in line with the recommendations of last Sunday's SADC Extraordinary Summit that called for its urgent establishment, The Herald reported on Friday.
The recommendation was also endorsed by the ruling ZANU-PF Politburo and the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC formation this week, the daily newspaper said.
The Minister of Information and Publicity Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told journalists in Harare on Thursday that President Mugabe has started the process of forming the inclusive government, according to the report.
He challenged Western countries to remove the illegal sanctions they imposed on Zimbabwe because they were hurting ordinary people.
"President Mugabe has been patient and tolerant, not out of weakness, but magnanimity. Given that the president is in the process, as I speak, of forming an inclusive Government, I am, therefore, calling upon the British, Americans and the European Union to immediately lift the illegal economic sanctions which are hurting the ordinary citizens," Ndlovu was quoted as saying.
He would not say whether Mugabe had extended invitations to the major body of MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai for them to submit lists of their prospective ministers.
"We cannot reveal what communications are taking place. We do not want to prejudge this. If we say the president is in the process of forming an inclusive Government, that is sufficient enough," he said.
Ndlovu said Zimbabwe was a sovereign state that should not be dictated to by outside forces with self-interests or acting on behalf of former colonial masters.
"As president of a sovereign state, Mugabe has the authority derived from the constitution to form the new government," he added.
The minister said Zimbabweans had waited for a long time to have a government to address the economic challenges facing their country and "ameliorate the suffering of the people by providing basic commodities and agricultural production."
Ndlovu said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extraordinary Summit had spoken loud and clear that an inclusive government should be formed forthwith.
Source: Xinhua
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