Zimbabwe talks break up, draft settlement agreed

Zimbabwe talks break up, draft settlement agreed

• Zimbabwe talks to finish on Thursday, draft deal ready

• Zimbabwe power-sharing talks resume

• Tsvangirai 'fairly satisfied' with talks

• Mbeki, Mugabe and Mutambara upbeat

• Mugabe says talks on track, wants speedy resolution

• Talks in recess, leaders meet negotiators

• Makone outed as media mole at power-sharing talks

• Zimbabwe negotiators hunt mole, sell world media dummy

• South Africa slams western sanctions on Zim

• Talks delegates 'demand luxury' - paper

• Zimbabwe talks begin, deal said close

• Mugabe, Tsvangirai 'differ sharply' over dinner

• Zanu PF, MDC negotiators set to begin talks

• Text: Memorandum of Understanding between Zanu PF and MDC

• Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara sign agreement

• Tsvangirai gives nod to power sharing talks

• AU, UN and SADC reaffirm support for Mbeki

• Ping snubs MDC ahead of Mbeki meeting

• South Africa slams US, UK criticism

• Additional Zim mediator 'fake issue' - Pahad

• Mbeki rejects EU demands on Zimbabwe

By Mduduzi Mathuthu
Last updated August 07, 2008
OFFICIALS from Zimbabwe’s three major parties locked in intense two-week long negotiations packed up from their Pretoria base and flew home with a draft power-sharing agreement on Thursday, New Zimbabwe.com can reveal.

The negotiators, two from each party, were heading home with a document that will need the assent of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party, and the two opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara.

If approved, the draft power-sharing agreement would be a major breakthrough for African diplomacy, and a personal triumph for South African President Thabo Mbeki who has been shuttling between Pretoria and Harare trying to end Zimbabwe’s decade-long political crisis.

The Zimbabwe crisis peaked on June 27 when Mugabe, 84, claimed a sixth term after a one-man election boycotted by his only opponent, Tsvangirai. The poll was widely condemned as a farce, and the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional trade bloc urged the two leaders to form a unity government to reflect a split parliament where no single party has a majority.

New Zimbabwe.com understands that the negotiators had proposed that President Mbeki travels to Harare on Saturday to cajole Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara into rubber-stamping the power-sharing deal, but he has indicated that he will officiate at Women’s Day commemorations on that day.

“It’s now a question of availability for President Mbeki and President Mugabe,” a source close to the talks said. “But he will travel to Zimbabwe sooner rather than later to push this through.”

Sunday appears the likely day Mbeki could travel to Zimbabwe. A deal signed on that day will assume special significance as Monday, August 11, is the Heroes Day holiday to remember independence war heroes.

Mbeki is also under pressure to secure a deal before a SADC heads of state meeting which South Africa is hosting on August 16.

There were signs earlier this week that a breakthrough was imminent when the United Nations’ Zimbabwe trouble-shooter Haile Menkerios flew into South Africa on Tuesday to monitor the talks.

On the same day, Mugabe dispatched a high-powered team of senior officials from Zanu PF’s decision making body, the politburo, to aid the push for a deal. The team included Emmerson Mnangagwa, John Nkomo, Sydney Sekeramayi, Oppah Muchinguri and Stan Mudenge.

Asked about reports in the South African media that a draft of the settlement agreed by the negotiators had leaked, our source said: “Those reports are so wide off the mark there will be no need to respond to them.”

The Star newspaper has claimed a draft it obtained from sources made Tsvangirai an executive Prime Minister and Mugabe a ceremonial President. Our sources indicate the said draft was in fact the MDC’s position document, and not a product of the negotiations.

New Zimbabwe.com understands Mugabe will meet Tsvangirai and Mutambara on or before Mbeki’s arrival to iron out outstanding issues which include the tenure of a unity government and what powers the leaders will have in the new set-up.

Indications are that Mugabe will remain as President, Tsvangirai as Prime Minister and Mutambara is said to be comfortable with a ministerial appointment – most likely in Science and Technology or International Trade where he feels he can make a difference.

Earlier on Thursday, Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba told reporters the talks were going "very well", and a spokesman for President Mbeki said they were progressing "extremely well".
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