Nehanda Radio
17 October 2008
“We are still in the same deadlock. We failed to agree. ZANU-PF is trying to give us a bicycle without wheels but we are refusing to ride that bicycle,” MDC-T chief negotiator, Tendai Biti.
“We need to be tolerant, patient and lower our expectations. The deal is only three weeks old yet it took Kenya five months to come up with a national unity government,” Senator David Coltart, the legal affairs secretary for the Mutambara-led MDC.
“When the power sharing deal was signed we all celebrated hoping that relief was coming. But nearly a month later nothing has happened and people are getting disillusioned.” Mwenezi East Member of Parliament, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti.
“We also know why his party is demanding the Home Affairs ministry. They held discussions in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa recently but we can’t go into that now.†Mugabe spokesman George Charamba refering to Morgan Tsvangirai.
“Mbeki must not preside over the signing of another half-baked agreement. The future of Zimbabwe over the next five years is at stake. He must hold a private meeting with Mugabe where he should impress upon him the fact that presidents don’t own countries, while citing his own recent experience.†Zimbabwe Times editor Geoff Nyarota.
“I understand the ministry of finance has been settled in favour of the MDC, but proposals on how to handle the ministry of home affairs are still being discussed behind closed doors. We have no details on that.” Unnamed government source speaking to the media.