Mugabe, Tsvangirai meet over differences

Zimbabwe’s leaders were set to meet on Monday in their first direct talks since Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai suspended power-sharing ties with President Robert Mugabe 10 days ago, a spokesperson said.

“The principals, comprising the Prime Minister Tsvangirai, President Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister [Arthur] Mutambara are set to meet this afternoon at 4pm (14.00GMT),” Tsvangirai’s spokesperson James Maridadi told Agence France-Presse.

“This is not a regular meeting. The meeting will discuss the issue of disengagement and the other outstanding issues related to the Global Political Agreement” which underpins the fragile, eight-month unity government.

Tvangirai shelved ties with Mugabe’s “dishonest and unreliable” camp on October 16, saying he will only resume cooperation once all outstanding issues are resolved, including wrangles over key posts and a crackdown on his supporters.

The meeting comes as Tsvangirai’s joint home affairs minister Giles Mutseyeka is set to meet senior police officials to discuss a raid on a house belonging to his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at the weekend.

Armed police raided a house belonging to the party on Saturday, claiming they were searching for weapons.

“I will be meeting the officers later today to discuss the raid which happened over the weekend,” said Mutseyekwa, who leads the portfolio which oversees the police with Kembo Mohadi from Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe agreed to form a unity government in Feburary after disputed polls the previous year, which saw the 85 year old handed victory in a one-man presidential run-off in June.—AFP