‘No deal yet’

The Zimbabwean Guardian
Staff reporter
Wednesday, 13 August 2008

UNBELIEVABLY, for the positive role he has played in the current political negotiations on Zimbabwe, South African President, Thabo Mbeki’s own position is now expected to come under scrutiny this weekend at a meeting of regional powers!

With hot communication lines buzzing throughout the world on the Zimbabwe situation it is no surprise that “wannabee first to hit the headlines” reporters are grabbing at straws, so much so that the SA President Mbeki has found himself having to stem rumours and deny that any power sharing deal has at last been signed between breakaway Opposition Leader Arthur Mutambara and President Robert Mugabe.

Despite this, it would appear that President Mbeki feels that a settlement could be reached.

The secretary general of the smaller opposition group, Welshman Ncube has rebuffed speculation that his party has clinched a power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe that excludes Morgan Tsvangirai.

We reported earlier that President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai had been unable to agree on the way forward, and Tsvangirai did leave the negotiations early yesterday (Tuesday) but, according to the BBC’s Karen Allen, this was merely to go and reflect on the deliberations.

At least one news publisher reported that the Mutambara faction came under fire from at least seven of its MPs-elect for signing the deal.

The following MDC(M) MPs are said to have threatened to quit if a deal was signed: Edward Tshotsho Mkhosi, MDC-Mangwe, Abednico Bhebhe (MDC Nkayi South), David Coltart (Khumalo senator), and a few unnamed others.

The only MP said to be receptive of the idea was Moses Mzila Ndlovu,MDC-Bulilima who was one of the negotiators in the power sharing talks in South Africa.

It is now clear that although a deal could have been signed, the signing parties will have to go a long way in convincing the public and their own supporters to accept the deal.

President Thabo Mbeki said the break was to allow Tsvangirai time to consider an unspecified aspect, of the proposed power-sharing setup.

Mbeki says he has no doubt the current round of talks will result in a power-sharing deal, as none of the parties can single handedly haul Zimbabwe out of the quagmire.

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