Zimbabwe’s parties are close to breaking a deadlock over a power-sharing deal and “history is being made” at talks between President Robert Mugabe and rival Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition MDC said on Wednesday.
MDC chief negotiator Tendai Biti, asked by reporters when talks would be concluded, said: “If you pray hard, tomorrow. History is being made and mountains are being moved”.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai are holding talks in Harare mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki after a power-sharing deal he brokered last month faltered over a dispute about cabinet posts.
A second day of negotiations ended on Wednesday without a breakthrough but will resume on Thursday at 09h30 GMT (about 11.30am South African time), Tsvangirai said.
“The proceedings have been going… they have not concluded. We are continuing tomorrow, because there are some matters still outstanding,” he told reporters as he left the talks venue.
Tsvangirai threatened to pull out of the agreement on Sunday after Mugabe allocated key ministries, including defence, home affairs – which oversees the police – and finance, to his Zanu-PF party.
A new government will have to tackle the world’s highest inflation rate of 231 million percent and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages.
(Source: IOL)
October 15, 2008
Africa, Democracy, In the news, Zimbabwe