Zimbabwe power-sharing hinges on latest meeting
Thursday, 16 Oct 2008 01:57
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have already failed to reach an agreement over sharing cabinet portfolios
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The latest round of talks to end
Zimbabwe's power-sharing stalemate has adjourned without an agreement.
There was no sign of a breakthrough as talks broke off in the early hours of Thursday morning local time.
Amid widespread speculation, there had been indications that Zimbabwe's leaders will announce the outcome after two days of negotiations aimed at rescuing a power-sharing deal that faces collapse.
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have already failed to reach an agreement over sharing cabinet portfolios.
Former South
African president Thabo Mbeki, who brokered the fragile power-sharing agreement, is mediating the talks. The negotiators have kept a tight lid on the proceedings of the talks.
In the morning, Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a breakaway Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction, expressed hope that an agreement could be reached.
"I am very hopeful," Mr Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, said when he arrived at the venue of the talks at a Harare hotel in the morning.
Mr Tsvangirai was cautious. "We are still discussing," he said. "Let's hope so."
However, Mr Mutambara criticised himself, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai for politicking over ministries while the nation's economic crisis spirals out of control.
"As leaders, we are debating the wrong things. The problem in Zimbabwe is a problem of leadership. Mutambara, Mugabe and Tsvangirai are masquerading as leaders, yet they are musketeers.
"I'm here today to put an end to this nonsense," Mr Mutambara said.
It is understood that some progress was made on Tuesday on the share out of the contested cabinet portfolios: home affairs, foreign affairs, local government and finance.
Mr Mugabe has allegedly loosened his grip on the finance ministry but dug in his heels on the office of home affairs fearing prosecution for crimes against humanity.
Mr Tsvangirai has threatened to pull put of the deal if his party is not given the home affairs cabinet portfolio.