The World - News from April 18, 1988

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, moving cautiously to implement a unity accord with the former chief opposition party, named opposition leader Joshua Nkomo to a top ruling party post. Nkomo was appointed interim second vice president. Mugabe and the opposition chief agreed last December to merge their two parties, which had been fierce rivals since independence in 1980. Mugabe also announced the formation of three committees to formally integrate his and Nkomo’s party. Members of the two parties endorsed the merger at a meeting in Harare earlier this month.