Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister today by old enemy President Robert Mugabe and vowed to salvage the ruined economy.
Their power-sharing deal has raised hopes among Zimbabweans of an end to widespread hardship, but bitter wrangling since they signed their agreement in September has stirred doubts over whether they can work together to bring in aid and investment.
Mr Tsvangirai (56) was sworn in by Mr Mugabe (84) who has ruled with his Zanu-PF party since independence from Britain in 1980. Mr Tsvangirai gave a little smile as he finished taking the oath in front of Mr Mugabe, who displayed his usual confidence.
"I want to assure you that this is the only workable arrangement and I can assure you that I and my party will give it our utmost," said Mr Tsvangirai, who cut his political teeth in the labour movement as a mine foreman.
Mr Mugabe said the parties should build on the deal "by turning our swords into ploughshares".
Mr Tsvangirai won a first round presidential poll against his rival last year but boycotted a subsequent run-off over violence, leading to deadlock that has worsened a crisis marked by hyper-inflation, food shortages and a cholera epidemic.
He said rescuing the economy would be a top priority. "We must get the country working again," said Tsvangirai in his inauguration address.
He called on the world to help Zimbabwe recover. It is suffering unemployment above 90 per cent, prices double every day, half the 12 million population need food aid and a cholera epidemic has killed nearly 3,500 people.
But foreign investors and Western donors have made it clear money will come only when a new democratic government is formed and bold economic reforms are taken - such as reversing nationalisation policies.
To cheers from his supporters, Mr Tsvangirai said civil servants would be paid in foreign currency from this month instead of in the increasingly worthless local currency. He did not say where the money would come from.
Power-sharing is unlikely to be easy, however. Implementation of the coalition deal only came after intense pressure from southern African countries, fearing a total meltdown in once-prosperous Zimbabwe.
The pact left Mr Tsvangirai with the ministries most responsible for addressing 10 years of economic decline, including the finance ministry, and he will be under pressure to show Zimbabweans and foreign investors for decisive action.
Mr Tsvangirai, a former union leader, gained respect at home and abroad for his fight against graft and rights abuses despite spending time in Mr Mugabe's jails. But his leadership skills in government are untested and analysts believe Mugabe, a master political operator, may try to undermine him.
Reuters