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Summit ends in Zimbabwe stalemate Summit ends in Zimbabwe stalemate
(about 5 hours later)
Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition have been unable to reach a power-sharing agreement at a regional summit of Southern African leaders. Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition have failed to reach a power-sharing agreement at a summit of Southern African leaders in Johannesburg.
Asked if a deal had been reached in Johannesburg, a spokesman for the main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said: "No, not at all". But the secretary-general of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said he believed a deal with the Zanu-PF would be reached "very soon".
However, South African President Thabo Mbeki said after the official summit closed that talks would continue. South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating in the crisis, earlier said talks would continue.
Hours earlier, Mr Tsvangirai said the talks had been going "very well". The MDC is insisting President Robert Mugabe surrender his executive powers.
Mr Mbeki is the regionally appointed mediator for Zimbabwe, and the latest talks took place at a summit of leaders of the 14-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc). MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to have agreed in principle to take on a powerful prime ministerial role in a new national unity government, although the exact balance of power is undecided.
When people are hungry, they are pliable MDC official (unnamed), speaking to the BBC's Orla Guerin MDC wary of Mugabe deal 'plot' When people are hungry, they are pliable MDC official (unnamed), speaking to the BBC's Orla Guerin MDC wary of Mugabe deal 'plot'
As the summit formally ended, Mr Tsvangirai's spokesman, George Sibotshiwe, told reporters: "There is no deal yet." In other business, the 14-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc) agreed to launch a regional trade zone aimed at eliminating import tariffs, with plans for a common currency by 2018.
Mr Tsvangirai is said to have agreed in principle for Mr Mugabe to retain the title of president, while he takes on a beefed-up prime ministerial role.
The key sticking-points are reported to be over the exact balance of power.
In other business at the summit, the Sadc agreed to launch a regional trade zone aimed at eliminating import tariffs, with plans for a common currency by 2018.
Zimbabwe is among a majority of Sadc countries who will participate in the trade zone. Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo did not join up immediately.Zimbabwe is among a majority of Sadc countries who will participate in the trade zone. Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo did not join up immediately.
Red lines 'No deal yet'
Mr Mbeki said that some Sadc leaders would continue to discuss Zimbabwe after the close of the summit. The BBC's Alan Little in Johannesburg says both sides in the negotiations have agreed on many things - that there should be a power-sharing government, that Mr Mugabe should be president and Mr Tsvangirai prime minister.
But the opposition has insisted that the president should cede real executive power to the MDC leader and stay in office only as a ceremonial head of state.
Protesters outside the summit made their feelings clearProtesters outside the summit made their feelings clear
Mr Tsvangirai finished ahead of Mr Mugabe in the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential election in March and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) also won a majority in parliamentary elections. Mr Tsvangirai is prepared to share cabinet posts with members of Zanu-PF, but he wants ministers to be answerable to him rather than Mr Mugabe. This, our correspondent says, Mr Mugabe refuses to concede.
But Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the second round of the presidential election, citing a campaign of violence against his supporters. Mr Mugabe went on to win the vote unopposed. Although Mr Tsvangirai had earlier said the talks were going "very well", as the summit formally ended his spokesman told reporters: "There is no deal yet."
Mr Tsvangirai told the New York Times that the most basic issue of how he and Mr Mugabe would share power remained unsettled, and there were limits to the compromises he could make. Sadc's mediator for Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki, said negotiations would continue, but added that it might "be necessary to convene parliament" during that time.
“It's better not to have a deal than to have a bad deal,” Mr Tsvangirai told the newspaper. While stressing that there was an urgent need to form an inclusive government in Zimbabwe, the South African president warned that a solution to the crisis was doomed unless all parties agreed to it.
Sticking-points in the power-sharing talks are reported to include "It won't last unless it's a common product that is owned by this entire collective of the leadership of Zimbabwe," Mr Mbeki said.
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  • the balance of power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai
  • the make-up of any coalition cabinet
  • control of Zimbabwe's security forces
  • the possibility of an amnesty over post-election violence
 Sadc's committee on security and politics reviewed a report on the mediation effort and concluded the agreements so far achieved on less contentious issues were "a good basis for a global agreement".
Mr Tsvangirai had a seat at the summit with other invited guests on the floor while President Mugabe joined other regional leaders at the head table. Later, MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti told a news conference in Johannesburg that his party was committed to the negotiations and that failure was not an option.
Arthur Mutambara, head of a breakaway MDC faction, also attended. These events... brought into question Sadc as an institution capable of promoting the rule of law and democratic governance Kabinga PandeZambian Foreign Minister
Pressure on Mbeki "We trust that there will be a conclusion... very soon," he said. "There are issues that are outstanding, but quite clearly one has no business in negotiating if you are not prepared to compromise.
Some critics believe regional leaders' handling of the Zimbabwe crisis has reflected badly on them. "It is critical that we conclude this dialogue as a matter of urgency."
Events in Zimbabwe were a "blot on the culture of democracy", Zambia said. Mr Tsvangirai finished ahead of Mr Mugabe in the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential election in March and his Movement for Democratic Change also won a majority in parliamentary elections.
The rare public criticism, attributed to Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, comes after Botswana's president decided to boycott the summit in protest. But the opposition leader pulled out of the second round of the presidential election, citing a campaign of violence against his supporters. Mr Mugabe went on to win the vote unopposed.
Zambia's Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande said the "regrettable events" in Zimbabwe had "no doubt left a serious blot on the culture of democracy in our sub region. On Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai told the New York Times that the most basic issue of how he and Mr Mugabe would share power remained unsettled, and there were limits to the compromises he could make.
"These events... brought into question Sadc as an institution capable of promoting the rule of law and democratic governance," he said, speaking on behalf of President Mwanawasa, who is in hospital after suffering a stroke. "It's better not to have a deal than to have a bad deal," he said.
Mr Tsvangirai had a seat at the Sadc summit with other invited guests on the floor while President Mugabe joined other regional leaders at the head table. Arthur Mutambara, the head of a breakaway MDC faction, also attended.
Are you in the region? Are you surprised the summit failed to achieve a breakthrough in Zimbabwe? Send us your views and experiences using the form below:
Are you in the region? Are you surprised the summit failed to achieve a breakthrough in Zimbabwe? Send us your views and experiences using the form below:
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