Still no agreement on Cabinet

 

Zimbabwe Independent journalist Dumisani Muleya told Newsreel from the Rainbow Towers venue of the talks, that information filtering out from the negotiators was that nothing has changed since talks started on Tuesday.

 

‘We understand they are still locked in deliberations over the key ministries as Tsvangirai stated yesterday evening (Wednesday),’ Muleya said.

 

Asked to comment on reports that the South African state broadcaster, the SABC, was reporting that Tsvangirai could be inaugurated as prime minister by Friday, Muleya said he was not too sure about the report’s authenticity.

 

‘If that is coming from the SABC, it could be that Thabo Mbeki’s aides leaked that story to them but otherwise most Zimbabwean journalists here are in the dark over that story,’ he said.

 

Apart from indicating that Tsvangirai might be inaugurated Friday, the SABC reported that the winding up of discussions over the sharing of cabinet positions was in the process.

 

‘Sources say Zimbabwe’s leaders are keen to have former South African President Thabo Mbeki stay on in the country for another day to attend the inauguration ceremony,’ the SABC said. Analysts say this could be an attempt to railroad Tsvangirai into an agreement.

 

Meanwhile South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has warned that the international community will not move in to assist Zimbabwe with an economic recovery plan until there is a government in place as mandated by the power sharing agreement signed last month.

 

Motlanthe remained optimistic that the political parties will be able to agree on the disputed matter of equitable sharing of cabinet ministries in the unity government, adding that he believes that former President Mbeki will be able to break the impasse.

 SWRadio Africa