Because of the deadlock in achieving the power sharing deal and portfolio balance, in line with the power sharing deal, attention is turning to the lead mediator President Thabo Mbeki. The South African President might have to come back to preside over the implementation of Agenda 20.1.6, which tackled sharing of Government positions.
So entrenched are the two sides as to who will get what portfolio, that save for direct intervention of the mediator, the next crucial face may not achieve much soon.
Despite display of commitment to the deal Monday when the principals inked the agreement, pledging a working arrangement between the partners of the coalition Government, a silent struggle is going on between the MDC and Zanu (PF).
A meeting between Mugabe, Tsvangirai and deputy Prime Minister-designate Prof Arthur Mutambara on Thursday ended in failure. Mugabe is reported to have told Tsvangirai that he would not cede five key ministries he was demanding. The ministries are Finance, Home Affairs; Media, Information and Publicity; Justice and Legal Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
The haggling for the choice ministries, portfolios with a higher profile and seen as strategic, could not only delay the naming of the Cabinet but give way to a highly bloated one.
The Zimbabwean heard that the issue has been referred to the negotiators of the three principals for finalization.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: The meeting was unfortunately inconclusive because the issues that were supposed to be dealt with have since been referred to the negotiating teams. Zanu (PF) wants to take all the key ministries, literally rendering the government exclusive and we are not going to countenance that approach.
Some MDC leaders now say Mbeki should be recalled to oversee the implementation of Agenda 20.1.6, which entails portfolio balance. Sources within the national dialogue team reveal Mbeki anticipated problems in sharing out of Government positions and promised to return.
“He left with the understanding that Agenda 20.1.6, portfolio balance, was going to be problematic and he would be willing to come back. There is evidence that he is needed,” the source said.
“Portfolio balancing was part of the negotiations and it is part of what the principals signed. It was not just to accommodate MPs and ministers into the Cabinet, a senior MDC official familiar with the ongoing negotiations said.
On Wednesday Mugabe described the power-sharing deal as a humiliation for his party. He was speaking after a meeting of his central committee where he was reportedly grilled about the power-sharing deal, and instructed by his deputies not to given in too much ground.