Summit call over Zimbabwe deadlock
Tuesday, 28 Oct 2008 10:50
Robert Mugabe remains in control in Zimbabwe
Deadlock over powersharing talks in
Zimbabwe has led to a plea for an internationally-brokered solution.
The troika, an organ of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC), wants its main body to host a summit resolving the problem.
At stake in the 31-member Zimbabwe Cabinet, agreed under a deal made on September 15th, is control of the home affairs ministry.
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party wants a joint management but opposition figurehead Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change believes it should not have to deal with the president's party.
The home affairs ministry holds a crucial position in Zimbabwe's structures of power. It is responsible for Zimbabwe's police, which the MDC claims has been used to persecute it during and after disputed elections earlier this year.
The SADC backs Zanu-PF's position on the issue: its executive secretary Tomaz Salomao said "cooperative management" was the best solution.
Meanwhile troika chairman Armando Guebuza was quoted by the Daily Herald newspaper saying he hoped the parties would "genuinely commit themselves to finding a lasting solution to the current deadlock".
Mr Tsvangirai remains reluctant to give way, however.
"Our commitment is to an equitable power-sharing arrangement, otherwise we are not going to be party to it and we may as well look for alternative political options," he said on Sunday.