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Zimbabwe rivals agree bill on PM | Zimbabwe rivals agree bill on PM |
(31 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwe's political parties have agreed on constitutional changes central to a power-sharing deal, an opposition spokesman has said. | Zimbabwe's political parties have agreed on constitutional changes central to a power-sharing deal, an opposition spokesman has said. |
But Nelson Chamisa said that other issues remained outstanding before a unity government could be formed. | But Nelson Chamisa said that other issues remained outstanding before a unity government could be formed. |
The changes agreed in South Africa pave the way for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister - as outlined in a September deal. | The changes agreed in South Africa pave the way for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister - as outlined in a September deal. |
The rivals have still not agreed on the allocation of cabinet posts. | The rivals have still not agreed on the allocation of cabinet posts. |
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) agreed to share power after disputed election to try to rescue the economy. | |
'Half-full' | |
Mr Chamisa stressed that the agreement on the draft constitutional bill was one of just five outstanding issues. | Mr Chamisa stressed that the agreement on the draft constitutional bill was one of just five outstanding issues. |
Asked how he thought the talks were going, he told the BBC: | |
"If you're optimistic, the glass is half-full, if you're pessimistic, it is half-empty." | "If you're optimistic, the glass is half-full, if you're pessimistic, it is half-empty." |
He said the talks had now ended in South Africa and the delegates would return to Zimbabwe for consultations with their respective party leaders. | |
Mr Tsvangirai has accused Mr Mugabe of going back on the spirit of the power-sharing agreement by trying to keep control of all the major cabinet posts. | |
Mr Mugabe has threatened to name a government on his own if the MDC refuses to join a unity administration. | |
Southern African leaders have urged the MDC to accept an offer to share the ministry of home affairs which controls the police. | |
But Mr Tsvangirai refuses, pointing out that Mr Mugabe wants defence and state security. | |
Zimbabwe's economy is in meltdown, while the country is being ravaged by cholera, which has killed at least 360 people. | |
The health and education sectors are reported to be on the verge of collapse. |
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