 South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, mediator Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican President Armando Guebeza did little to pressure the veteran dictator to loosen his grip on power. Tsvangirai called it, probably the darkest day of our lives' and said the very same outstanding issues on the agenda are the same issues that are creating this impasse.' However he still pledged his commitment to the deal, but only if his party got control of the Home Affairs Ministry, amongst other conditions.
Mugabe meanwhile was blaming Tsvangirai for throwing a spanner in the works and accused him of presenting new conditions. But he told journalists that talks between his party and the MDC would continue in Harare. Arthur Mutambara, who many feel is the biggest beneficiary of the deal, was clearly disappointed by the impasse and blamed both Tsvangirai and Mugabe. He said the two leaders were refusing to change their positions and that Zimbabwe deserved better leaders than either of them.
 SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salamao described the talks as inconclusive' and announced that an emergency summit of the grouping will be held either in Botswana or South Africa, to try and resolve outstanding differences. So once again Zimbabweans have to wait.
The proposal that ZANU PF brought to the talks said that the MDC should join the government first, support the adoption of Constitutional Amendment 19, have Tsvangirai sworn in as Prime Minister and then sort out the allocation of ministries after the inauguration of the new cabinet. It also said that when the contracts of the incumbent governors end, or should vacancies arise, the posts will then be shared according to the formula agreed in the original deal. ZANU PF also says the MDC should submit a draft bill for discussion, which would explain the role of the newly created National Security Council. They want this draft by the 24th January 2009. All other outstanding issues would only be dealt with once the new government had been formed.
The MDC countered these proposals by insisting on the equitable distribution of ministerial portfolios, the appointment of governors and other senior appointments, the enactment of amendment 19 and the secession and reversal of all breaches to the agreement, before any government is formed.
 The latter point was in relation to the abduction and detention of opposition and civil society activists which the MDC argues violated September's agreement. So while ZANU PF is saying come and join the government, we will resolve the difference later' the MDC is refusing to put the cart before the horse.' Spokesman Nelson Chamisa said, the key conflict areas needed to be resolved. It’s crucial where there is mistrust. We do not want to go into a government as a ritual.'
Meanwhile church leaders from South Africa on Tuesday urged former President Thabo Mbeki to step down as mediator. Leaders from Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Dutch Reformed, Lutheran and Rhema churches said, Mbeki is compromised and no longer suitable for the mediation process.' They accused SADC and the South African government of failing the people of Zimbabwe and Africa through their so-called quiet diplomacy. We respectfully call for the intervention of the African Union and the appointment of a new facilitator,' the group added.
Several other church leaders from the South African Council of Churches, notably Cardinal Wilfred Napier and Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, supported the statement saying Mugabe was holding onto illegitimate power.' South Africa's powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions also released a statement saying it is alarmed by the failure of the talks. COSATU said it was nearly 10 months since the people of Zimbabwe voted the MDC into office despite huge levels of intimidation, yet ZANU PF, the party that lost, is clearly refusing to agree to any new government that reduces their power. COSATU blamed SADC for treating Mugabe as a bonafide President' even though he lost the elections
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