Zanu PF says claims of deadlock 'mischievous'

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Posted to the web: 02/10/2008 04:59:28
ZANU PF moved to deny power sharing talks with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were deadlocked on Wednesday as the MDC renewed calls for former South African President Thabo Mbeki to be brought in to end the impasse.

Zimbabwe’s ruling party said no outside mediation was needed in negotiations with the opposition on dividing key cabinet posts.

"Anyone who says there is a deadlock is being mischievous. There is commitment on all of us to make things work," said Patrick Chinamasa, chief negotiator for Zanu PF.

The MDC said earlier that it was asking Mbeki to resume his mediation in Zimbabwe's political crisis.

The MDC's announcement came after President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to resolve their differences over four of the most important cabinet posts during a meeting Tuesday.

"If there was a disagreement as is being suggested, I don't think it's one that would justify calling in the facilitator," Chinamasa told AFP.

"If there are any issues, I believe they can resolve them among themselves," he added.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and MDC splinter group leader Arthur Mutambara agreed on September 15 to a landmark power-sharing agreement.

The deal brokered by Mbeki was heralded as a historic initiative to resolve Zimbabwe's political deadlock and economic meltdown. But the agreement is now at risk unless the leaders can resolve the issue of the formation of a government which will see Tsvangirai becoming Prime Minister and Mutambara one of his two deputies.

Nkosazana Zuma, South Africa's foreign minister, said on Wednesday she was confident that Mbeki would continue mediating the power-sharing talks if he is asked by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Mbeki's role in the process, now deadlocked over cabinet appointments, has been in doubt since he was ousted last month by his ruling African National Congress after accusations of meddling in the corruption case against ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

The 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), which asked Mbeki in 2007 to mediate in neighboring Zimbabwe, has said the resignation would have no impact on Mbeki's role as a mediator. The ANC also indicated support for him to continue.

"I think if he's asked, (Mbeki) will continue because I think he was not doing it just because he happens to be president," Dlamini Zuma told a small group of reporters in New York.

"He's convinced that all the assistance should be given to Zimbabwe," she said during a briefing on her visit to the U.N. General Assembly.

She said an agreement brokered last month by Mbeki spelled out that there were three guarantors for its implementation -- SADC, the African Union and the facilitator himself.

"When there's a problem the guarantors must come in and try and do something about it," Dlamini Zuma said. "Whether president Mbeki himself will continue, of course that's a matter for SADC because he was appointed by SADC."

Dlamini Zuma said the South African government under Mbeki's successor would continue to be involved and assist in the process. She said she did not see differences between Mbeki's position on Zimbabwe and that of the ruling African National Congress.

Asked about the possibility of Western countries led by Washington imposing more sanctions on Mugabe's government, Dlamini Zuma said that would not be helpful.

"Whether you put sanctions or not, Zimbabwe needs a government," she said. "I don't think sanctions will help in the process right now. What will help is really assisting them to be able to form a government."

State media in Zimbabwe took an upbeat line on Wednesday with Chinamasa telling the state-run Herald newspaper that Tsvangirai and his two deputies – Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe – had already been allocated office space at the government’s Munhumutapa Building in Harare.

According to Chinamasa, Khupe has already visited her new offices.

The MDC ended Zanu PF’s two thirds majority in the House of Assembly in the March 29 elections which international observers said were free and fair, although Zanu PF enjoys a majority in the Senate. Tsvangirai also got more votes than Mugabe, but not enough to avoid a run-off.

Despite losing control in the House of Assembly, overall Zanu PF had 45,94 percent of the total vote on March 29 to the MDC-Tsvangirai’s 43,56 and MDC-Mutambara’s 8,39 percent – the basis of the distribution of the 31 ministries in the envisaged new government. The other smaller parties shared 2,79 percent of the vote.

Zanu PF has been allocated 15 ministries and 8 deputy ministers, Tsvangirai’s MDC 13 ministries and 6 deputy ministers and the Mutambara MDC 3 ministries and one position of deputy minister.
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