HARARE – Former South African leader Thabo Mbeki opened a second day of talks yesterday with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his main rival to save a power-sharing deal that has floundered over cabinet posts.
Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to reach an agreement after more than seven hours of talks on Tuesday centred on control of the finance, home and defence ministries in a unity government. Tsvangirai threatened to pull out of the agreement after Mugabe last weekend announced he would award key ministries to his own party, leaving the 84-year-old leader with a firm grip on the military, police and other security agencies.Mbeki, who brokered the deal signed one month ago, flew to Harare on Monday to try to rescue the pact that raised hopes of an end to months of deadly political unrest that might allow Zimbabwe to drag itself out of economic ruin.Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai told reporters they were hopeful the deadlock would be broken yesterday, though few details of their talks have emerged.- Nampa-AFPTsvangirai threatened to pull out of the agreement after Mugabe last weekend announced he would award key ministries to his own party, leaving the 84-year-old leader with a firm grip on the military, police and other security agencies.Mbeki, who brokered the deal signed one month ago, flew to Harare on Monday to try to rescue the pact that raised hopes of an end to months of deadly political unrest that might allow Zimbabwe to drag itself out of economic ruin.Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai told reporters they were hopeful the deadlock would be broken yesterday, though few details of their talks have emerged.- Nampa-AFP
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