Mbeki seen staying on as Zimbabwe mediator

• Excerpts of Mutambara's speech at signing of power sharing deal

• Tsvangirai confident of rallying international support

• Copy of Zimbabwe power sharing document

• In Quotes: World reaction to power sharing deal

• Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara sign power sharing deal

• Mugabe and opposition to sign power sharing deal

• What chance of quick Zimbabwe turnaround?

• Timeline of Zimbabwe crisis since March 29

• What they said about Zimbabwe deal

• What they said about Zimbabwe deal

• Mbeki announces deal, calls for international support

• Mbeki's 'twin cabinet' plan has Mugabe on the backfoot

• DOCUMENTS: The power-sharing document Tsvangirai refuses to sign

• Text: Memorandum of Understanding between Zanu PF and MDC

Posted to the web: 22/09/2008 22:47:23
OUTGOING South African President Thabo Mbeki looked set to continue as mediator to find a solution to Zimbabwe’s political crisis on Monday – a day after announcing he would step down within days, having lost a power struggle within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Mbeki scored a major breakthrough when he got President Robert Mugabe and opposition rivals Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara to sign a power sharing agreement last week.

But the agreement still has some way before it’s implemented, with both the ruling Zanu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions indicating that they are deadlocked over the distribution of key ministries.

Matthews Phosa, a senior ANC official, said the party wanted Mbeki to continue as mediator in Zimbabwe despite concerns over his diminished authority.

And researchers at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said on Monday that Mbeki “remains the only person who will be able to ensure the successful implementation of the Zimbabwean power-sharing agreement”, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported.

The ISS gave its opinion after a seminar on the power-sharing agreement held in Tshwane on Monday.

The researchers said Mbeki’s diminished authority could have the opposite effect.

Negotiations around the cabinet posts are set to resume when President Robert Mugabe returns from the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations on later this week.

According to Mugabe, it was through President Mbeki's "tactical and tactful way", "gifted intellect" and ability to "never allow a problem to defeat him" that Zimbabwe's historic power-sharing deal was clinched, prising power from his grip.

SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomas Salamao said as South Africa remains chair of SADC, regional countries would take a cue from the country on how to proceed on Zimbabwe.

“As a region, I think that he (President Mbeki) did a commendable job, in particular what refers to the mediation in Zimbabwe,” he said. “The chairmanship belongs to South Africa so South Africa will continue to be the chair of the SADC and we will continue to work together."

In Brussels, the European Union praised Mbeki as "an outstanding statesman".

EU chief diplomat Javier Solana said Mbeki had worked to bring peace in other African nations, including Congo, Burundi and Zimbabwe.

The ANC on Monday named its deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe as head of state.
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