Zimbabwe parties meet after stalemate

Updated 20.13 Tue Oct 14 2008

Keywords: Thabo Mbeki, Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's political parties have begun meetings aimed at rescuing a power-sharing deal.

The deal, brokered by former South African President Thabo Mbeki last month, is in danger of collapse over disagreements about cabinet posts.

"The fact that we are here, bickering over cabinet posts is a travesty of justice. Mutambara, Mugabe and Tsvangirai should shape up or ship out" - Arthur Mutambara

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai threatened to pull out of it at the weekend after President Robert Mugabe allocated key ministries to his Zanu-PF party.

No decision was reached on the first day of talks but negotiatons will resume on Wednesday.

Arthur Mutambara, who heads a splinter MDC faction, is also taking part in the talks.

Dr Mutambara expressed frustration over the stalled deal: "The fact that we are here, bickering over cabinet posts is a travesty of justice. Mutambara, Mugabe and Tsvangirai should shape up or ship out."

Justice minister and Zanu-PF's chief negotiator in the power-sharing talks, Patrick Chinamasa, said he hoped Mr Mbeki could offer new ideas.

He added: "As far as we are concerned, the only contention is the Ministry of Finance.

"Mugabe this weekend angered the MDC by allocating the ministries for defence, home affairs - which oversees the police - and finance to his Zanu-PF party."

On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's parliament began sitting for the first time since it was officially opened by Mugabe in August amid jeers and boos from MDC members.

A new government will have to tackle the world's highest inflation rate of 231 million per cent and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages.