Talks on the formation of a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe failed today to end a long stalemate over cabinet posts, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said. The MDC and President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF have been negotiating since September 15, when an outline deal was reached to end a political crisis that worsened after Mugabe’s re-election unopposed in an election in June boycotted by the MDC.
Tendai Biti, Secretary General of Morgan Tsvangirai’s main MDC faction, said no progress had been made in talks today.
The MDC said earlier that talks were deadlocked on sharing out all key ministries. It called for urgent African mediation over the crisis, which has accelerated Zimbabwe’s economic collapse.
Dispute over finance ministryZanu-PF said at the weekend that the dispute centred only on the finance and home affairs ministries but an MDC statement today rejected this.
The MDC called for help from the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. The original deal was brokered by Thabo Mbeki, who remains as SADC mediator despite being ousted as South African president.
Asked if the MDC had made contact with him, Biti said Mbeki “is aware of what is happening.”
Zanu-PF officials were not immediately available for comment.
A senior Zanu-PF official said yesterday that Mugabe was expected to meet Tsvangirai in the next two days in another attempt to break the deadlock. — Reuters
