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Zimbabwe deal 'can be salvaged' Regional leaders discuss Zimbabwe
(1 day later)
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai remains hopeful a power-sharing deal with President Mugabe can work, despite an impasse in talks. Southern African leaders are to meet in Swaziland to try to break the deadlock over the formation of a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai remains hopeful a power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe can work, despite an impasse in talks last week.
Mr Tsvangirai said the deal was sound but there was "a problem of trust" between himself and Mr Mugabe.Mr Tsvangirai said the deal was sound but there was "a problem of trust" between himself and Mr Mugabe.
Talks on sharing cabinet posts have stalled over Mr Mugabe's insistence on appointing his supporters to key posts. President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party said Zimbabwe would not bow to pressure.
Earlier, the two sides appealed to the regional grouping, Sadc, to mediate in the long-running negotiations. Monday's meeting is being hosted by the ruler of Swaziland, King Mswati; with the leaders of Angola and Mozambique, he forms the security panel of the Southern African Development Community.
Both Mr Tsvagirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF called on Sadc (Southern African Development Community) and the African Union to help broker a deal. Robert Mugabe said his allies should hold the key posts in the cabinet
They will be hearing a report from the Sadc's mediator on Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki.
But Zanu-PF's chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa warned: "They can't impose anything on us especially on such a small matter as the allocation of ministries."
Talks on sharing cabinet posts have stalled over Mr Mugabe's insistence on appointing his supporters to key positions.
Difficult negotiationsDifficult negotiations
Four days of negotiations ended on Friday with the two sides unable to agree on a division of government posts.Four days of negotiations ended on Friday with the two sides unable to agree on a division of government posts.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Tsvangirai insisted the month-old power-sharing deal could be rescued, but that Mr Mugabe was dominating the negotiations and failing to listen. name="box">
I wouldn't say there is a deadlock... The matters are capable of solution quite easily Thabo MbekiFormer South African President class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7668172.stm">Crunch time for Mbeki's legacy class="" href="#infographic">Diagram of power-sharing deal name="top"> Speaking at a rally of his Movement for Democratic Change on Sunday in Masvingo, Mr Tsvangirai said: "This time we won't fail."
"There's nothing wrong with deal, that's why we signed. It's only when it came to implementation that we ran into problems," he told thousands of supporters at a rally in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. I wouldn't say there is a deadlock... The matters are capable of solution quite easily Thabo MbekiFormer South African President class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7668172.stm">Crunch time for Mbeki's legacy class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5522&edition=1">Have Your Say class="" href="#infographic">Diagram of power-sharing deal name="top">
"The past four days have been a dialogue of the deaf," the AFP news agency reported him as saying. He had earlier described last week's talks in Harare as "a dialogue of the deaf".
"It was one-man monologue. Mugabe does not negotiate. He just says 'No'," AFP reported. "It was one-man monologue. Mugabe does not negotiate. He just says 'No'," the news agency AFP reported.
The efforts to reach a deal were mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.The efforts to reach a deal were mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Mbeki oversaw the signing of the power-sharing framework deal a month ago, but has since stepped down from office in South Africa and is now attempting to construct Zimbabwe's new government as a private citizen.Mr Mbeki oversaw the signing of the power-sharing framework deal a month ago, but has since stepped down from office in South Africa and is now attempting to construct Zimbabwe's new government as a private citizen.
Ministry conflictsMinistry conflicts
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, following events from South Africa, says the power-sharing deal now teeters on the brink of total collapse.The BBC's Jonah Fisher, following events from South Africa, says the power-sharing deal now teeters on the brink of total collapse.
MINISTRY DIVISION Zanu-PF: 14 ministries including: DefenceForeign affairs JusticeLocal governmentMedia Main MDC: 13 ministries including: Constitutional and parliamentary affairsEconomic planning and investment promotionLabourSportArts and cultureScience and technology development MDC (Mutambara): three including: EducationIndustry and commerce Source: Government gazetteMINISTRY DIVISION Zanu-PF: 14 ministries including: DefenceForeign affairs JusticeLocal governmentMedia Main MDC: 13 ministries including: Constitutional and parliamentary affairsEconomic planning and investment promotionLabourSportArts and cultureScience and technology development MDC (Mutambara): three including: EducationIndustry and commerce Source: Government gazette
President Mugabe had reportedly told the MDC he had allocated the main ministries, including defence, home, foreign affairs, and justice, to Zanu-PF.President Mugabe had reportedly told the MDC he had allocated the main ministries, including defence, home, foreign affairs, and justice, to Zanu-PF.
Mr Tsvangirai later told Mr Mbeki that 10 cabinet positions needed to be revisited at the negotiations, officials said.Mr Tsvangirai later told Mr Mbeki that 10 cabinet positions needed to be revisited at the negotiations, officials said.
As well as finance, the MDC also insisted it should have home affairs - and control of the police - if Zanu-PF had defence.As well as finance, the MDC also insisted it should have home affairs - and control of the police - if Zanu-PF had defence.
They say they need home affairs to give them a stake in the country's security forces and that power sharing should mean them getting a fair share of key cabinet positions, our correspendent says. They say they need home affairs to give them a stake in the country's security forces and that power sharing should mean them getting a fair share of key cabinet positions, our correspondent says.
The MDC accused the security services of taking part in violent attacks on its supporters before June's presidential run-off election.The MDC accused the security services of taking part in violent attacks on its supporters before June's presidential run-off election.
Yet it was the MDC's insistence on taking the home affairs portfolio that has proved the biggest sticking point, a senior aide to Mr Mugabe told The Herald newspaper.Yet it was the MDC's insistence on taking the home affairs portfolio that has proved the biggest sticking point, a senior aide to Mr Mugabe told The Herald newspaper.
Reports on Friday suggested that Mr Mugabe might have agreed to let the MDC take the key post of finance minister, but that he would not give it home affairs.Reports on Friday suggested that Mr Mugabe might have agreed to let the MDC take the key post of finance minister, but that he would not give it home affairs.
Morgan Tsvangirai says talks are now deadlocked
Finance is one of the most crucial posts, as Zimbabweans hope the power-sharing deal will lead to action to tackle the economic crisis.Finance is one of the most crucial posts, as Zimbabweans hope the power-sharing deal will lead to action to tackle the economic crisis.
Donors have promised to help finance a recovery plan but they are unlikely to release funds if a Zanu-PF minister is in charge.Donors have promised to help finance a recovery plan but they are unlikely to release funds if a Zanu-PF minister is in charge.
At 231,000,000%, Zimbabwe has the world's highest rate of annual inflation, while some two million people need food aid. Aid agencies warn that figure could double within the next few months.At 231,000,000%, Zimbabwe has the world's highest rate of annual inflation, while some two million people need food aid. Aid agencies warn that figure could double within the next few months.
According to the original power-sharing deal agreed last month, 15 ministries are to be allocated to Zanu-PF, 13 to the MDC, and three to a smaller MDC faction led by Mr Mutambara. According to the original power-sharing deal agreed last month, 15 ministries are to be allocated to Zanu-PF, 13 to the MDC, and three to a smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara.
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