Zim: Back to the drawing board

2008-09-30 19:08

Harare - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai met on Tuesday, but failed to agree on a share-out of ministries in a power-sharing government, the opposition said.

MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told AFP that the deadlock had been referred back to former South African president Thabo Mbeki who mediated the agreement signed earlier this month.

"As MDC, we refuse to be junior partners in the inclusive government," Chamisa said.

"Any power-sharing is supposed to be a partnership of equals. As a result of this there has been a deadlock.

"The matter has been referred to the mediator."

The standoff follows Mugabe's claim on Tuesday that a new government would be formed by the end of the week.

"Unfortunately, there has not been any movement on the part of Zanu-PF who are insisting on taking all the powerful ministries against the spirit of a power-sharing agreement," said Chamisa.

A source close to the negotiations said Zanu-PF wants the defence, home affairs, state security and finance ministries.

- AFP