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No breakthrough in sight in Zimbabwe talks
In The News
October 15, 2008

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Talks to end Zimbabwe's power-sharing deadlock enter a second day today after former South African president Thabo Mbeki failed to break the impasse after more than 12 hours of consultations with the country's political leaders.

Mr Mbeki's mediation efforts to end Zimbabwe's power-sharing stalemate began early Tuesday morning and by late last night, there was still no agreement reached between president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"There was no conclusion to discussions. We will continue again today," said Mr Tsvangirai emerging from Sheraton Hotel, the venue of the crisis talks, late Tuesday night.

Mr Mugabe who stands accused of threatening the power-sharing deal after allocating key ministries to his Zanu-PF party added: "We are continuing tomorrow, we have not finished. Continuing means we have covered some areas."

Mr Mbeki, who arrived on Monday night, first met negotiators of Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) before holding closed door meetings with Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a breakaway MDC faction.

The historic power-sharing deal has been bogged down by disagreements over the allocation of key ministries: home affairs, foreign affairs, local government and finance.

Sources say a lot of progress was made yesterday on the share out of the contested cabinet portfolios especially the finance ministry with the feuding parties agreeing to either rotate the ministry.

"This would mean each party would second someone to the finance ministry for a period of one year after which he or she would handover the reigns to the next party.

"Another option is to have either a Zanu-PF finance minister deputised by the two MDCs or MDC finance minister deputised by Zanu-PF and MDC Mutambara," said sources.

But Zanu-PF sources say Mr Mugabe is adamant that Mr Tsvangirai's MDC should not be given the home affairs ministry fearing prosecution for human rights violations against opposition supporters in the run up to the controversial June 27th presidential run off poll that he won

Mr Mugabe, who was outpolled by Tsvangirai in the first round of balloting in March elections, won the June one candidate poll after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew from the race citing widespread intimidation and violence against his supporters that claimed over 100 lives and displaced tens of thousands of other party followers.

Mr Tsvangirai has threatened to pull out of the deal if Mr Mugabe does not cede the home affairs ministry to his MDC party, a demand that Mr Mugabe's fierce backers, including security chiefs who orchestrated the violent campaigns, are refusing.

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