Harare — MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and some of the negotiators to the Global Political Agreement met for less than two minutes on Monday.

Those who attended admitted that nothing of substance was discussed because some of the negotiators were not present.

Monday's meeting followed another between the three principals to the GPA last Friday.

At that meeting, President Mugabe directed Mr Tsvangirai to hold deliberations with the negotiators in preparation of fuller engagement to resolve their differences.

President Mugabe indicated he would be out of the country on official business.

In separate interviews yesterday, Zanu-PF's Cde Patrick Chinamasa and his MDC-T counterpart Mr Tendai Biti confirmed the meeting. They said it did not last long because the other negotiators were not available.

Cde Chinamasa, Cde Nicholas Goche (Zanu-PF) and Mr Biti attended.

The other three negotiators; MDC secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube, his deputy Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, and MDC-T's Mr Elton Mangoma had other commitments.

The three -- who are all Cabinet Ministers -- were reportedly out of the country on Government business. Cde Chinamasa said, "We had a brief meeting with the Prime Minister but it did not last more than two minutes because the other negotiators were not available.

"They were reportedly out of the country. The meeting was about him (Mr Tsvangirai) advising us to start the negotiations as directed by His Excellency President Mugabe.

"However, he only became aware that the other negotiators were not available when he had called for the meeting hence it lasted less than two minutes," he said. Cde Chinamasa said they were now waiting for other negotiators to come back.

Mr Biti said not much was covered because the MDC had no representation. He said they were, however, committed to beat a Sadc deadline to begin dialogue.

"PM Tsvangirai implored us to start the negotiations but the meeting did not go far because there was no representation from the other party whose negotiators are out of the country.

"We are hoping to start the negotiations as soon as the other negotiators are back and we will work hard to make sure we meet the stipulated timeframe," Mr Biti said.

On November 5, a Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Summit in Mozambique said the parties should resume dialogue within 15 days.

Sadc said the discussions should not go beyond 30 days after the summit.

Seven days have already gone by without any real progress.

Zanu-PF says it has implemented its obligations under the GPA while MDC-T has reneged on its commitment to lobby for the lifting of illegal sanctions.

MDC-T is also yet to call for the dismantling of pirate radio stations and calling for an end to undue external interference in the country's affairs.

MDC-T is accused of running parallel Government structures through the PM's Office.

Mr Tsvangirai's party wants Roy Bennett -- who is facing terror-related charges in the High Court sworn-in as Deputy Agriculture Minister.

They have also called for the reversal of the appointments of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono, Attorney-General Mr Johannes Tomana. However, President Mugabe has pointed out that the appointments were constitutional and irreversible and that Bennett can only assume office if he is cleared of the charges he faces.