Mugabe praises 'patient' Mbeki as deal nears

Mugabe praises 'patient' Mbeki as deal nears

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Last updated: 11/08/2008 13:12:17
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe paid tribute to South African leader Thabo Mbeki on Monday, hailing him for his “patience” as the country’s decade-long political crisis looked set to be settled around a negotiating table.

Mugabe and the two leaders of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara spoke through the night Sunday, breaking off at 3am on Monday as they worked out a power-sharing deal.

President Mbeki is mediating in the talks – a mandate given to him by regional trade bloc SADC and the African Union. He has been in Zimbabwe since Saturday, and was determined to secure a deal before returning home later on Monday, his spokesman said.

Addressing thousands of people gathered to commemorate Heroes Day in Harare, Mugabe said there were "little hurdles" to clear before the rivals reached consensus on the way forward.

New Zimbabwe.com understands the sticking point is over who will chair Cabinet meetings between Mugabe, as President, and Tsvangirai, as Prime Minister.

“We had a long night negotiating on some little hurdles and I thought I should raise my fist but he (Mbeki) remained cool and said: 'Let us continue talking'," Mugabe said in a speech to honour those who died fighting in Zimbabwe's liberation war. He has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

Mbeki's spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said the South African leader was returning home on Monday.

The discussions are seen as the clearest sign yet that an agreement could be within reach to end a crisis that has intensified Zimbabwe's economic collapse and spread fears in the region of a total meltdown.

Talks began last month in the aftermath of Mugabe's unopposed re-election in June in a poll condemned throughout the world and boycotted by Tsvangirai because of attacks on his supporters.

Mutambara and other officials from his MDC faction were present at the Heroes Acre for Mugabe’s address. Tsvangirai did not turn up, and there was no explanation for his absence. - Staff Reporter/Reuters
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