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| Africa Subsaharan |
| 'Pressure can't conclude Zimbabwe deal' |
| 2008-10-20 |
| Robert Mugabe's aide says Zimbabwe will not bow to pressure but will seek advice from other African leaders on forming a power-sharing government. "They can't impose anything on us, especially on such a small matter as the allocation of ministries," The chief negotiator for President Robert Mugabe's party, Patrick Chinamasa, was quoted as saying by the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper. Chinamasa stressed that Mugabe and opposition leaders are to meet Monday with the presidents of Angola, Mozambique and Swaziland in Mbabane, Swaziland. The three nations represent the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) which has supported former South African President Thabo Mbeki's efforts to mediate Zimbabwe's political crisis. "All the principals and their negotiating teams are going (to the meeting). Delegations from the three parties will be called upon to clarify any issues. After this, the troika will guide us on the way forward," Chinamasa highlighted. Mbeki left Harare early Saturday after four days of talks failed to resolve which 15 ministries Mugabe's ZANU party should get. Mbeki was to submit a report on the stalled negotiations to the three regional nations. Under the power-sharing deal signed Sept. 15, thirteen Cabinet posts are to go to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's party and three others to a smaller opposition party led by Arthur Mutambara. The opposition has accused Mugabe of trying to hold onto too many key posts. Last week, Mugabe appointed three members of his party as head of key ministries of defense, home affairs and finance. Tsvangirai, who had threatened to pull out of talks after Mugabe's move, said on Saturday that he was committed to continue talks with his rival party until a final solution is reached. |
| Posted by:Fred |