ZANU PF Intransigence Blocks Agreement: MDC

JOHANESBURG – Zimbabwe’s opposition said the ruling ZANU PF party’s “intransigence and lack of sincerity” have blocked political settlement in the crisis-sapped country as the two rivals began a fresh round of power-sharing talks in South Africa on Tuesday.

Negotiators from the ruling party and the two opposition MDC formations were meeting mediator ex-South African leader Thabo Mbeki to discuss a draft constitutional Bill that would allow President Robert Mugabe to form a unity government outlined under a September 15 power-sharing agreement.

The power-sharing agreement has stalled as the Morgan Tsvangirai-led opposition MDC party and ZANU PF fight over control of key ministries, distribution of gubernatorial posts, ambassadorships and other top government posts.

“The MDC notes with concern ZANU PF's intransigence and its continued lack of sincerity which have stood in the doorway of an amicable political settlement; a settlement which does not reduce the MDC to a junior partner,” the opposition said in a statement as talks were due to begin.

The MDC, which has accused ZANU PF of wanting to take control of all the most powerful ministries and consign it to a peripheral role in government, said it wanted the new talks to go beyond the constitutional amendment Bill to look into all outstanding issues, including the equitable distribution of government posts.

* Zimonline