Zanu-PF doesn't want Mbeki

2008-10-01 17:30

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