Zimbabwe: Negotiating Teams Resume Talks
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The Herald (Harare)
6 October 2008
Posted to the web 6 October 2008
Harare
NEGOTIATING teams from the country's main political parties are set to meet today to discuss the allocation of two Cabinet posts that are yet to be resolved before the formation of an inclusive Government.
Zanu-PF negotiator Cde Nicholas Goche last night said the negotiators from his party and the two MDC formations would meet today.
"We are most likely to meet tomorrow (today)," he said.
He, however, could not shed light on where the negotiations would be held.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa said although nothing had been confirmed to his party about the meeting, it was his party's desire that a solution is reached soon.
"The people want closure and finality to these talks. They want a resolution and it is our sincere hope that our colleagues will appreciate the urgency of the matter," he said.
Mr Chamisa said the parties need to respond to the need and desire of the people to work out solutions to the challenges facing the country.
No comment could be obtained from MDC spokesperson Mr Edwin Mushoriwa as his mobile phone was continuously unavailable.
Cde Goche and Cde Patrick Chinamasa are leading the negotiations for Zanu-PF while MDC-T secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti and party deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma represent their formation.
MDC secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube and his deputy Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga complete the negotiating teams.
President Mugabe and the leaders of the two MDC formations, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara, met on Saturday and narrowed their differences to two Cabinet posts.
President Mugabe indicated, on his return from the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly last week, that the parties were divided on the allocation of four Cabinet posts, but the weekend meeting narrowed them to two posts.
Confirming Saturday's meeting, Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde George Charamba said the principals had decided that there should be further consultation at the level of their negotiating teams "exclusively over the ministries of Finance and Home Affairs".
The country's three main parties last month signed an agreement paving the way for the formation of an inclusive Government.
In the agreement, facilitated by former South African president Cde Thabo Mbeki, President Mugabe remains Head of State and Government, Mr Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister while Professor Mutambara becomes one of the two deputy prime ministers.
President Mugabe will appoint two Vice Presidents from Zanu-PF while Mr Tsvangirai has already nominated his party's vice president, Ms Thokozani Khupe, as one of the deputy prime ministers.
The principals met after the signing of the agreement to share the 31 ministries where Zanu-PF takes control of 15 ministries, MDC-T 13 and MDC three.
The leaders, however, found the task of allocating ministries laborious and referred the issue to the negotiators to deal with the four ministries that were yet to be resolved.
The meeting between the negotiators raises hopes for the conclusion of the talks, leading to President Mugabe announcing the Cabinet probably later this week.
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This would also lead to the tabling of Constitutional Amendment No. 19 in Parliament to pave way for the formation of an inclusive Government.
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