Fresh Zimbabwe Talks With Mbeki Begin
By VOA News
14 October 2008
Fresh talks are underway in Zimbabwe in hope of salvaging a power-sharing deal between the country's main political parties.
Negotiators Tuesday began discussions mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai is reported to be at the talks, as is Arthur Mutambara, head of an MDC breakaway faction. It is not clear whether Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has joined them.
The power-sharing agreement was jeopardized on Saturday when Mr. Mugabe assigned control of key ministries, including defense, home affairs and foreign affairs, to his own ZANU-PF party.
Mr. Mugabe further alienated the opposition Monday when he swore in two vice presidents, Joyce Mujuru and Joseph Msika, who served under the previous government.
The MDC says there has been no agreement on the ministries, and has threatened to withdraw from September's power-sharing deal.
Mr. Mbeki helped to broker the deal, meant to end the crisis after Zimbabwe's disputed presidential elections.
In Luxembourg Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the European Union will "play no part in supporting a power grab" by the Mugabe government.
The EU threatened to reinforce travel and financial sanctions against Mr. Mugabe and more than 170 of his close allies.
The power-sharing deal calls for ZANU-PF to control 15 ministries, with the two factions of the MDC getting 16. Mr. Mugabe would remain as president, with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai becoming prime minister.
Zimbabwe has been without an official government since disputed presidential elections earlier this year.
The sides are under pressure to reach a deal so Zimbabwe can begin recovering from its long economic freefall.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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