The dispute over the allocation of ministries in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government has been referred to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after four days of talks in Harare failed to bring about an agreement.
A senior negotiator for President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party told The Herald newspaper in Harare that the principal disagreement was over which party would control the home affairs ministry, which is responsible for the police.
It has already been agreed that Mugabe will continue to control the armed forces. The Zanu-PF negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa, said the party had agreed to cede the finance ministry to the Movement for Democratic Change.
Although the SADC facilitator, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, denied that the talks had deadlocked, Agence-France Presse reported Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai as saying a deadlock had been declared.
"Regrettably, after four days of intense negotiations, we have failed to agree on the... key issue, which is the equitable allocation of ministerial posts and the composition of cabinet," AFP quoted Tsvangirai as saying. He said the parties were "far apart" on the issue.
The SADC's "Organ on Politics, Defence and Security" will now consider the dispute. Under the power-sharing agreement which Zimbabwe's leaders signed on September 15, SADC, Mbeki and the African Union act as guarantors and underwriters of the deal. The three countries which run the security organ are reportedly planning to meet in Swaziland on Monday.
Tsvangirai is scheduled to report back on the talks at rallies in the cities of Bulawayo and Masvingo this weekend.
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The first blunder the made by SADC, UN, AU, and the whole world is to recognize Mugabe as president. So they have themselves to blame. I believe in countries where Prime Ministers are in control of governments, all ministers or secretaries of departments report to the Prime Minister. To cut long matter short, Robert Mugabe should have nothing to do with any office in government but rather serve as a ceremonial head. A hint to the wise is sufficient and those have eyes let them see, but those who have ears let them hear also too!
Kukujumuku, SADC, UN, AU and the whole world recognised President Mugabe because he is legitimate. They could not have done otherwise because the facts were there for everybody to see including fools like Prem and Awt_independent. After negative reports by western sponsored monitors, especially from Botswana, SADC realised that it had been lied to, hence took decisive action to recognise President Mugabe.
You can say anything you want but the fact remains that Presient Mugabe is legitimate. The stage-managed violence by MDC has long been discredited. Remember the discredited story about the 11-month boy who MDC said was flang to the floor while his mother hid under the bed and broke all legs. The New York Times had to learn from its mistakes and now they no longer take the gargabe.
Remember the story of the Magunje women who was said to have been beheaded by Zanu pf youths while her children looked on. Another piece of garbage. Remember also the story of Tsvangirai's bodyguard who died in South Africa. Ask fugitive Bennett, he will tell you the cause of death. Examples are too numerous to mention and no one in their right senses believe MDC any more except maybe McGee.
I believe you are one of the gravy seekers and therefore have interest in "so say one and so say all". If you do not understand what this means, you are there to rubber stamp any and every action that is against the will of the people. Can you please tell me how many MDC's supporters were killed, maimed and terrorized before Mugabe conducted the one man show elections? I am surprised for you to support the idea of killing your own brothers and sisters becuase of greed, graft, corruption, personal interest, and self aggrandizement? I do not think you are a true Zimbabwean. If you were, you will neither preach hatred nor encourage division but rather strive for unity, economic growth, quality education, sound health program for your people, transportation, electricity, road net work, reduce inflation, etc. Which position do you hold in the current government? Again, MDC's candidate (who is a senior government official) has been denied a passport to travel on a peace mission in the interest of country and its citizenry. What do you have to say about such awkward experience? Is that democracy, totalitarianism, authoritarianism, autocracy, or demockery?
I am only concerned about peace in Zimbabwe because of the suffering masses since I am indeed a citizen of the world. Do not bear false witness and please learn to treat others as you would love them do unto you.
Shalom & Aurevior!
And so it goes on and on!!!! Talking, talking but in the meantime (re IOL news) what is left of what could be called a economic system in Zimbabwe is on its last. Aid agencies are prevented from drawing money timeously from their bank deposits to pay for their operations to feed the hungry. And there is apparently enough money to help the most needy people until January. The reason for the delay? Some f-up with regulations imposed by the almighty governor of the central bank. Bottom line = MUGABE COULDN'T CARE A FIG LEAF ABOUT THE WELFARE OF HIS PEOPLE.
At this junction anybody with a modicum of a sense of honesity has to realise that obviously Mbeki has no credibility especially from his out of kilter comments. And precisely because he is an impartial arbitrator, he needs to be replaced with a more impartial party - one with more gravitas and one that doesn't cosy up to Mugabe - as soon as possible. There is a reason the South Africans, by taking the presidency from Mbeki just a few month before national elections, left him rather igniminiously holding a pipe.