Kitsepile Nyathi
2 October 2008
Nairobi — South Africa's new government has called on former President Thabo Mbeki to continue as the region's mediator in Zimbabwe's political crisis despite his ousting as president.
The call came as President Mugabe's promise for a new government before the end of the week remained hollow as his ruling Zanu PF's insistence to retain control of key ministries threatened to torpedo the historic power sharing agreement.
The deal is increasingly in danger of unraveling as the two partners appear divided on how to resolve the stalemate with ruling Zanu PF saying there is no need to recall South African President Thabo Mbeki who brokered the deal.
Reacting to the South African call, a senior official with President Mugabe's ZANU-PF party said Mr Mbeki's involvement was not needed now to break the impasse threatening to derail a power-sharing deal and the recovery of the African nation's shattered economy.
Mr Mbeki, a trouble-shooter in a series of African crises during nine years as president, brokered the September 15 deal between Mr Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai that is to establish a unity government.
Mr Mbeki's role was thrown into doubt after his ruling ANC forced him to resign. Pressure for him to become involved again has grown as Mugabe's party and the MDC argue over the allocation of cabinet posts.
"Mr Mbeki's facilitation efforts in Zimbabwe have proven his dispassionate vision for a lasting political solution to the challenges facing Zimbabwe," new South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said in a statement on Thursday.
"Accordingly, our government has full confidence in Mr Mbeki's ability to build on the historic successes already made in the power sharing negotiations under his mediation."
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change initially criticised Mr Mbeki as being too soft on Mugabe, but it now supports him continuing his 18-month mediation under a mandate from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community.
The MDC wants Mr Mbeki to return to break the impasse, which it says is standing on the way urgent efforts that are needed to forestall looming famine and arrest the further decline of the economy.
Zanu PF insists that there is no deadlock and today announced that Mr Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister designate and his deputy Professor Arthur Mutambara of the small faction of the MDC were ready to move to their offices.
Mr Patrick Chinamasa, the Zanu PF chief negotiator, said Mr Mugabe was still committed to forming a government before the end of the week.
"I don't think that the issue of allocation of ministries is a matter that can be referred to the facilitator," Mr Chinamasa said. "We cannot at the slightest of a difference of opinion call outsiders to mediate."
After a meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai failed to break the deadlock on Tuesday, the MDC called for the South African Development Community ask Mr Mbeki to return to his role.
The South African Business Day newspaper, said SADC had made formal requests for Mr Mbeki to return to Zimbabwe.
But with Zanu PF rejecting outside help, there were indications that the MDC had seriously considered the option of pulling out of the coalition government if Zanu PF continued to drag its feet.
"It is apparent that Zanu PF is unwilling to honour the agreement in the first place," an unnamed MDC official was quoted as having said on Thursday by several online publications.
"There is an element of contempt for and reluctance to form a coalition government as the agreement demands and the people of Zimabwe expect President Mugabe to do."
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