Officials close to the Zimbabwe power-sharing talks say negotiations in South Africa have broken off.
Two officials, who insisted on anonymity because all parties agreed to a media blackout during the talks, say the chief negotiators for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe are flying home on Monday.
Another official, in Zimbabwe, said the two negotiators — Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche — might be going home to consult Mugabe about their mandate. He said it was not clear whether the talks were in recess or had broken down.
The talks between Zimbabwe’s ruling and opposition parties began on Thursday.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won most votes in March elections but pulled out of a June run-off because of the months of escalating state-sponsored violence. Mugabe ran alone and declared himself winner.
Tsvangirai flew to South Africa on Monday, his chief spokesperson said.
”We arrived this afternoon,” George Sibotshiwe said.
Asked about the purpose of the visit, Sibotshiwe said: ”We are here for private business.”
Another source in his office, however, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Tsvangirai was due to meet up with senior lieutenants who have been negotiating with Zimbabwean government representatives for the last five days.
”He is going to meet his negotiators for consultations,” said the official.
The same source said that Tsvangirai was also expected to travel to Angola on Wednesday for a meeting to discuss the security situation in Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai’s arrival comes a week after he signed a deal with Mugabe to begin talks on sharing power after a months-long election dispute.
The talks are being held at a secret venue in the Pretoria area, with Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change represented by party secretary general Tendai Biti.
Tsvangirai spent much of the period in the immediate aftermath of the March election abroad, basing himself in South Africa, before returning home for the final stages of the campaign.
He had been unable to travel in recent weeks as he had run out of space in his passport.
Meanwhile, the South African government had criticised on Sunday the imposition of new sanctions on Mugabe and his allies, especially with talks over the crisis in Zimbabwe.
”For us, it is difficult to understand the objectives of new sanctions,” Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said.
”The Zimbabweans are meeting, let them sort out what they want for their future. We should not allow outside interference,” he told a press conference.
The United States and the European Union have broadened sanctions on Mugabe and his closest aides, drawing accusations such moves could derail the negotiations under way in Pretoria. — Sapa-AP, AFP