Talks resume, discussion said centred on finance ministry

• Mbeki takes over cabinet talks, no deal on first day

• Britain warns Mugabe over 'power grab'

• Mbeki in Zimbabwe to salvage power sharing deal

• Tsvangirai threatens to quit government

• Mugabe risks MDC fury by parcelling out ministries

• Mbeki to travel to Zim 'next week' - MDC

• Morgan Tsvangirai: Statement on the state of cabinet talks

• Tsvangirai calls in Mbeki to break deadlock

• Zanu PF says MDC jeopardising talks

• Zuma urges Zimbabwe parties to keep talking

• MDC wants urgent SADC intervention

• Leaders meet, fail to agree on Cabinet

• Zanu PF concedes finance ministry as cabinet hopes rise

• Zanu PF says claims of deadlock 'mischievous'

• Mbeki resignation hangs over Zim talks

• Mbeki called in as Tsvangirai, Mugabe deadlocked?

• Mugabe returns, says cabinet by end of the week

• Tsvangirai: We must respond to crisis with utmost urgency

• Cabinet deadlock 'surmountable' - Tsvangirai

• Misihairabwi: Cabinet talks on course

• Mugabe calls on West to lift 'demonic' sanctions

• Zim parties to agree on ministries 'within days'

• Mbeki still the point man in Zimbabwe - SADC

• Mbeki seen staying 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

By Nelson Banya
Posted to the web: 15/10/2008 11:53:22
ZIMBABWEAN parties resumed talks on Wednesday aimed at rescuing a power-sharing deal and state media said the discussions would focus on who gets control of the finance ministry.

Negotiations, mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, ended without agreement on Tuesday.

The Herald newspaper, controlled by President Robert Mugabe's administration, said proposals would be tabled on leadership of the ministry crucial to reviving Zimbabwe's ruined economy and attracting foreign investment.

Opposition MDC leader Morgan 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.

Tsvangirai, who arrived at the talks venue along with Arthur Mutambara, leader of the smaller faction of the MDC, was cautious on the prospects of a breakthrough.

"Let's hope so. We're still negotiating," he told reporters.

Mutambara was critical of all sides.

"As leaders, we're debating the wrong things. The problem in Zimbabwe is a problem of leadership," he said.

"Mutambara, Mugabe and Tsvangirai are masquerading as leaders, yet they're musketeers. I'm here today to put an end to this nonsense. Shame on us."

Mugabe and Tsvangirai said negotiations on Tuesday were not conclusive, but the Herald, quoting sources, said new proposals had been put forward and a deal was possible on Wednesday.

Neither opposition nor ruling party officials were available to comment on the Herald report. Mugabe made no comments when he arrived at the talks venue at a Harare hotel.

The Herald said one proposal was for a nominated finance minister to have two deputy ministers.

If the minister is from Tsvangirai's MDC, he would have two deputies -- one from Zanu PF and another from Mutambara's MDC. If the minister is from Zanu PF, the two MDC factions would second deputies. If the minister is from the Mutambara MDC, however, there would be no need to appoint any deputies.

Another option was to appoint a neutral person to the post.

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.

Analysts say that although the power-sharing agreement could be in danger, the rivals are under pressure to reach a settlement. However, Mbeki may have less leverage in Zimbabwe after being ousted as South African president by his own party last month.

Mugabe's party was stripped of a majority for the first time since independence from Britain in 1980 after a March 29 election which the opposition says he rigged to retain power. - Reuters
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com