Negotiators for Zimbabwe’s political leaders failed on Friday to agree which parties should get key ministries in a new unity government, two opposition parties said.
”The negotiators met but they could not come to an agreement,” said Nelson Chamisa, spokesperson for the main Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
”Basically, the negotiators came to the table with instructions from their principals and there was no shift of position on the part of Zanu-PF,” he said, referring to President Robert Mugabe’s party.
Edwin Mushoriwa, spokesperson for the MDC splinter group led by Arthur Mutambara, said meetings and telephone discussions had been held to try to resolve ”the impasse”.
Mugabe, prime minister designate and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and Mutambara failed on Thursday to agree on who will get which key ministries in a new unity government. They referred the matter to negotiators.
Chamisa said Zanu-PF was insisting on key positions while the MDC was arguing for ”genuine inclusive power-sharing”.
”It should be a give-and-take situation but Zanu-PF is coming into the negotiations with a take, take and take mentality which is not helpful. We will not allow ourselves to be mere accessories in another Zanu-PF government.”
He said discussions between the negotiators will continue. ”It’s a negotiation and we will continue to discuss issues until we carve out a deal.” — Sapa-AFP