Mbeki, who was reported to be due in Harare to present a power-sharing deal to President Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, failed to pitch up.
Mbeki was said to have made a breakthrough at the talks, clinching a power-sharing deal that would have seen Tsvangirai running a transitional government as an executive prime minister and Mugabe as ceremonial head of State. Tsvangirai would also be allowed to pick up two deputies, one from his MDC and another from Zanu (PF).
The transitional government is mandated with holding internationally supervised election in 24 to 30 months, although Zanu (PF) is insisting that the authority should run government for the next five years to maintain the legislative and presidential electoral calendar in tandem.
The deal reportedly includes immunity from prosecution for Mugabe and his cronies, pointedly the Joint Operations Command, whose representatives were said to have met Sydney Mufamadi and Frank Chikane in Pretoria this week for a briefing on their role in a new joint government.
Mufamadi and Chikane are two representatives of President Mbeki at the talks.
Charamba however dismissed the reports as utter nonsense.
All that which is being reported is utter nonsense, Charamba said. The talks are going on very well and the people of Zimbabwe shall be informed in due course.
But Tsvangirai’s spokesman George Sibotshiwe insisted that Mbeki was due in Harare to facilitate a face-to-face meeting between Tsvangirai and Mugabe Thursday together with UN envoy Haile Menkerios.
Tapiwa Mashakada, the main MDC spokesman declined to comment while Edwin Mushoriwa, the spokesman for the breakaway MDC faction led by Prof Arthur Mutambara could not be immediately reached for comment.
Mukoni Ratshitanga, Mbeki’s spokesman said in Pretoria a deal was imminent and said there was good progress.Â
Post published in: News