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Zimbabwe talks fail to reach deal Zimbabwe talks fail to reach deal
(about 2 hours later)
A summit of African leaders in Zimbabwe has failed to reach a breakthrough to end the country's political deadlock, say government officials. A summit of African leaders in Zimbabwe has failed to end the country's political deadlock.
Power-sharing talks between President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, have been taking place in the capital, Harare. The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) says a larger, regional summit should be held soon to try to reach a deal.
The process has been deadlocked over the allocation of key cabinet posts. The key sticking point in Monday's talks was control of the home affairs ministry, which controls the police.
The Southern African Development Community says a larger regional summit should be held to try to reach a deal. A power-sharing agreement signed six weeks ago has stalled over the allocation of cabinet posts.
Six weeks have passed since Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai shook hands in Harare and signed what appeared to be an historic power-sharing agreement. President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, held talks with former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and with regional leaders from Angola, Mozambique and Swaziland.
But attempts to form an inclusive government have run into serious trouble, BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles reports. After 13 hours of talks, the group issued a statement calling for a summit of all 15 of Sadc's leaders "as a matter of urgency".
On Monday, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai held 13 hours of talks under the continued mediation of South African ex-leader Thabo Mbeki, with leaders from South Africa, Angola, Mozambique and Swaziland. Asked what would happen if a full regional summit failed, Sadc's executive secretary, Tomaz Salamao said: "I can assure you that we will reach an agreement so that option is not relevant."
The meeting had been due to take place last week in Swaziland, but Mr Tsvangirai said he could not attend as the Zimbabwean authorities had refused to give him a passport. But Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly lobby group, told the BBC's World Today programme that talks were proving "very inconclusive".
"I think don't see them coming to an agreement now," he said. "It's now beginning to show what we have always suspected - that the two sides are irreconcilable."
Food shortages
Last month, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai shook hands in Harare and signed what appeared to be an historic power-sharing agreement.
But attempts to form an inclusive government have run into serious trouble, BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles reports. We respect Mbeki but quiet diplomacy has its limits if it leads to quiet approval of wrong things Morgan Tsvangirai Mood sours over Zimbabwe dealZimbabwe deal: Key points
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says President Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF, seem intent on controlling all the important ministries and sidelining the MDC.Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says President Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF, seem intent on controlling all the important ministries and sidelining the MDC.
Regional leaders from SADC had hoped to use Monday's summit to put pressure on Zimbabwe's rival leaders to bring an end to the political impasse. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is facing severe food shortages, both in the countryside and in the urban areas, and the country has the world's highest inflation rate.
But following a day of talks, they released a statement saying the talks had failed, and calling on all member states to hold a summit "to further review the current political situation in Zimbabwe as a matter of urgency".
'Bully'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said that it was "urgent to resolve the ongoing political impasse so that recovery can begin".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said that it was "urgent to resolve the ongoing political impasse so that recovery can begin".
A statement issued in New York said he was concerned that "the humanitarian situation in the country may worsen in the course of 2008 and 2009".A statement issued in New York said he was concerned that "the humanitarian situation in the country may worsen in the course of 2008 and 2009".
We respect Mbeki but quiet diplomacy has its limits if it leads to quiet approval of wrong things Morgan Tsvangirai class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7689991.stm">Mood sours over Zimbabwe deal class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points Mr Tsvangirai has threatened to pull out of the deal, under which he would be named prime minister.
"Our commitment is to an equitable power-sharing arrangement, otherwise we are not going to be party to it and we may as well look for alternative political options," Mr Tsvangirai told a rally of his supporters on Saturday.
"When it comes to negotiations, no-one is to bully us."
The MDC leader has threatened to pull out of the deal, under which he would be named prime minister.
Mr Mugabe has allocated the key ministries of defence, justice and foreign affairs to Zanu-PF.Mr Mugabe has allocated the key ministries of defence, justice and foreign affairs to Zanu-PF.
After four days of talks earlier this month, he agreed to let the MDC have the finance portfolio. After four days of talks earlier this month, he reportedly agreed to let the MDC have the finance portfolio.
The deadlock is centred on the question of who gets responsibility for the home affairs ministry, which controls the police. Last month's deal specifies that Zanu-PF should have 15 ministries, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC 13 and a breakaway MDC faction three.
The deal specifies that Zanu-PF should have 15 ministries, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC 13 and a breakaway MDC faction three.
But Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says the MDC also wants a share of provincial governors and ambassadors.But Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe says the MDC also wants a share of provincial governors and ambassadors.
Although Mr Mbeki remains the facilitator of this tortuous process, some observers say he may have lost some of his influence since being forced to resign as South African president just days after brokering the deal.Although Mr Mbeki remains the facilitator of this tortuous process, some observers say he may have lost some of his influence since being forced to resign as South African president just days after brokering the deal.
The MDC has long criticised Mr Mbeki for his policy of "quiet diplomacy" towards Mr Mugabe and has previously called for him to be replaced.The MDC has long criticised Mr Mbeki for his policy of "quiet diplomacy" towards Mr Mugabe and has previously called for him to be replaced.
"We respect Mbeki but quiet diplomacy has its limits if it leads to quiet approval of wrong things," Mr Tsvangirai said. "We respect Mbeki but quiet diplomacy has its limits if it leads to quiet approval of wrong things," Mr Tsvangirai said recently.
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Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think will end the political deadlock? Where does this leave Zimbabwe? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in Zimbabwe? What do you think will end the political deadlock? Where does this leave Zimbabwe? Send us your comments using the form below:
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