Zanu-PF doesn't want Mbeki
2008-10-01 17:30
Special Report
The High Court judge in Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett's terrorism trial has refused to step aside.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
Fanuel Jongwe
Harare - Zimbabwe's ruling party on Wednesday rejected an opposition call for ex-South African president Thabo Mbeki to intervene to salvage a power-sharing deal after the two sides failed to agree on a Cabinet.
Mbeki, whose party last week forced him to resign in a separate power struggle, mediated the deal between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to form a unity government.
The agreement signed on September 15 had been hailed as a breakthrough in Zimbabwe's political crisis, sparked after Mugabe lost a first round of elections in March.
Negotiations have bogged down on forming a Cabinet, with Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claiming that Mugabe wants to retain key posts - believed to be the defence, home affairs, state security and finance ministries.
After Mugabe and Tsvangirai failed to resolve their differences during a meeting on Tuesday, the MDC called on Mbeki and the regional bloc SADC to resume their mediation to break through the logjam.
But the chief negotiator for Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party denied any deadlock, saying no outside mediation was needed.
"Anyone who says there is a deadlock is being mischievous. There is commitment on all of us to make things work," Patrick Chinamasa told AFP.
"If there was a disagreement as is being suggested, I don't think it's one that would justify calling in the facilitator," Chinamasa said.
"If there are any issues, I believe they can resolve them among themselves," he added.
- AFP