Kitsepile Nyathi
16 October 2008
Harare — President Robert Mugabe has made significant concessions to the opposition amid indications Zimbabwe's three main parties are close to breaking a deadlock over a power sharing deal.
Zanu PF and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials close to the talks said the veteran leader had conceded the contentious Ministry of Finance but still insisted on retaining control of Home Affairs.
Later on Thursday Reuters reported that Zimbabwe's political parties had agreed the MDC opposition will control the crucial finance ministry. An unnamed senior government source was attributed for breaking the news.
"I understand the Ministry of Finance has been settled in favour of the MDC, but that proposals on how to handle the Ministry of Home Affairs are still being discussed behind closed doors. We have no details on that," the source told Reuters.
State media also reported that Mr Mugabe's controversial cabinet list released at the weekend that gave key ministries to his ruling party was being revised.
Between leaders
The talks between leaders of the ruling Zanu PF and the two MDC formations had dragged late into the night on Wednesday dashing hopes that a settlement would be reached as promised.
At one point it appeared as if a positive announcement was on the verge of being made after facilities for a formal press conference were set up at the venue of the talks led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
But Mr Mugabe and his rivals, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara emerged to say the deal had not been finalised yet but was still within reach.
Negotiations resume at mid day today with the MDC declaring that "history is being made" at the talks.
"There could be some changes to the list (of ministry allocations) gazetted last week as the parties find each other and make compromises for the sake of progress," the state controlled Herald newspaper quoted an unnamed Zanu PF official.
"I am not in a position to say what these changes will entail because the matter is now being handled largely at the highest level that is at the level of the three party leaders."
Options were also being discussed to have a rotational system of control between the MDC and Zanu-PF for the disputed ministries.
The deal that was underwritten by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union had looked in danger of failing after Mr Mugabe unilaterally allocated key ministries to his party.
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the greed in the US and Europe is worse. The bailout of the financial sectors in these countries has just shown us how, corrupt and fraudulent these people are. Where did the trillions of pounds and dollars went to? The notion that Africa survive because of AID is the brainwashing propaganda which the western world have been pumping to the people. How come there were able to pump so much money in such a short time, yet they money they promised to Make Poverty History has not yet been given to the receipents. The G8 have never given Africa anything for free, a lesson Africans should know by now. For how many years have AID be given to Africa, yet not even one African country can say successfully that poverty is not a word they know. If the G8 can print trillions, nationalise their economies and are in a recession, but wont use the words, why is that we dont ask the right questions at the right time?
Thanx Thuthu, keep up the standard!!!i concur with you there...you're 100% right.
To correct you Thuto, there was no corrupt or fraudulent behavior in the US or Europe to create the current economic client. Everyone acted within the rules as they stand. What was at fault was lax regulation allowing companies to not state SIV's on their balance sheets, and therefor not fully disclose their positions. There was nothing fraudulent or corrupt about any of these behaviors, greed yes, but nothing fraudulent.
If you want to see corruption, take a look at the pockets of the ZANU PF and why they are so afraid to give up the finance ministry. If they do, the MDC will be able to audit these books and see the massive misappropiation of funds that has led to Zimbabwe being listed as the 14th most corrupt country in the world.
The bailout is showing just how solid these countries are. That they are able to poor so much money back into these sectors to build them back up again, which Zimbabwe was never able to do.
The trillions of pounds did not go into anyones back pockets. When the stock market falls 10%, that doesnt mean that 10% of the value of the stock market goes into someones back pocket now does it. What a stupid comment.
As for the G8 never giving Africa anything for free, why should they? Why should you sit there and expect free money? Why should Mugabe beat and murder his own people and then expect the west to pay him money? This is why you see sanctions on him and his government.
Yet another poor brainwashed fool. I pity you.
Thuthu, you missed the point, my friend. Your comparison is also a bad one. The government in those countries you just named are not starving their people, economy, etc. They have better regulations and laws that protect their citizens, businesses, etc. They do not turn their heads one side why their masses suffer. Also, it time for Africa stop being so dependant on developed nations and begins to implement economic policies that would benefit the continent. Our so-called African leaders make our people and businesses to depend on others for survival. This is purely wrong for one of the riches continents on earth. Leader like Mugabe locks leadership, economic, and strategic plans that could bring more investments and make his country competive. There is absolutely no economic plans at all for most of our African nations. The leaders believe that begging would build our economy. I beleive these developed nations are tired of spoon feeding us why our leaders fail to put together sound economic plans to move the continent forward. Unlike Africa, if the US and Europe as you mentioned, we were greedy, at least they have the means to bid themselves out of the hole. Look at Zimbawe and Mugabe, the once prosperous economy has ruined since the departure of those who helped built it. If you need to condem anyone, condem most of African leaders who have no natinal interest but believe only in the prosperity themselves and friends. Let's stay close to home and leave out developed countries. Right next door to Mugabe, South Africa, for example, within the same continent, managed to developed one of the best economic polices that has make it the best developed economy on the continent. What South Africa has done to its economy can be done by any African nation. But most our leaders do not want to learn economic policies that would benefit all. They believe in pocket economy, meaning, stealing from the people for them and their families and friends. Such a policy has generated no good resuts but wars and economic depressions and starvation amongst the our less fortunates. So Thuthu, before you blame the west for the failure of your own leader's policies, review both sides of the arguments to keep it balance. We should be thankful to Europe and US for haven't turning their backs on Africa because, if they do, the whole continent will starve to death!!!
The greed for political power in Africa has become one of the most destructive elements on our continent. How can we compete with the west or any other developing countries when we do not respect the will of our people? While our people are dying, greedy politicians care less and only seek after their own self-interests. Old man Mugabe needs to hang it up as he has failed his people. He is doing nothing more but simply disgracing himself. It is time for change Mugabe, step down for the sake of your people...! There is no more room for dictatorship in Africa. Get the message and stop making fool out of yourself!!!
You have hit the nail on the head.Its all about how many millions they can get for themselves rather than trying to improve the life of the ordinary man on the streets.Thank God for giving us a limit in life, otherwise some people would have loved to rule until they are 200yrs old. The only hoe is that everything comes to an end no matter how hard the Old man tries to hang on to power one way or the other the end is near.
gtowsend,How can your mind sink that low!!, you clueless numbskull..What will of the people are u refering to..It seems you're just pathetic..OUR constitution says that if no candidate gets 50%+ votes he's not a winner..,thus no will of the people is declared there, simple as that..the stooge tsvangirai failed to get 50% therefore neither him nor his Western sponsors can make noise about will of the people..You know, it never ceases to astonish me, The odessey of hipocrisy of Western leaders, their media and naive readers like this silly goat, gtowsend who brag about rule of law and yet they're the same people who disregard it for the sake of the stooge..Gtowsend , ziva zvekumusha kwako,leave Zimbos alone..President R.G.M, EMPOWERED US the black majority and we are profoundly grateful to him for that!!!
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The greed for political power in Africa has become one of the most destructive elements on our continent. How can we compete with the west or any other developing countries when we do not respect the will of our people? While our people are dying, greedy politicians care less and only seek after their own self-interests. Old man Mugabe needs to hang it up as he has failed his people. He is doing nothing more simply disgracing himself. It is time for change Mugabe, step down for the sake of your people...! There is no more room for dictatorship in Africa. Get the message and stop making fool out of yourself!!!