HARARE, Aug 15 – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party on Friday urged him not to give into pressure over the country’s unity government, saying it had fulfilled its obligations to the agreement.
"The implementation of the Global Political Agreement (on forming a unity government) cannot be a one-sided affair," said Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) spokesman Ephraim Masawi.
"Therefore the ZANU-PF politburo calls on the state secretary and president of ZANU-PF (Mugabe) to resist any pressures intended to prejudice the party in a manner that is contrary to the GPA and the constitution of Zimbabwe."
International pressure is mounting on Mugabe to institute reforms in the country six months after the formation of an inclusive government with rival Morgan Tsvangirai
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pushed last week for greater reforms in Zimbabwe while visiting South Africa where the two countries pledged to work together to bolster up Zimbabwe’s power-sharing pact.
Masawi said the party had fulfilled key obligations such as appointing opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister.
"The constant reference by the MDC to outstanding matters therefore baffles us," Masawi told a press conference, adding that in return nothing had been done to remove sanctions against top ZANU-PF government officials.
"It is now six months since the formation of the inclusive government and ZANU-PF leaders as well as their families are still inhibited to visit Europe and the United States of America, as indeed in respect of their children to go to school in these countries."
Both the European Union and the US maintain a travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe, his wife and inner circle in protest at controversial polls last year and alleged human rights abuses by his government.
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