Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has agreed to resume his mediation in neighbouring Zimbabwe’s political crisis, a spokesperson for government in Pretoria said on Friday.
”Mbeki has agreed” to resume his mediation after talks with South Africa’s new President, Kgalema Motlanthe, government spokesperson Thabang Chiloane said.
Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had called for Mbeki to mediate in power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe, which have stalled over disputes on how to divide key ministries in a unity government.
Motlanthe on Thursday backed Mbeki as the mediator in Zimbabwe, saying he would revive the stalled power-sharing deal he brokered last month.
”Our government has full confidence in Mr Mbeki’s ability to build on the historic successes already made in the power-sharing negotiations under his mediation,” President Kgalema Motlanthe said in a statement.
The agreement signed on September 15 had been hailed as a breakthrough in Zimbabwe’s political crisis, sparked after Mugabe lost a first round of elections in March.
Negotiations have appeared to be at a stalemate, with Tsvangirai’s MDC claiming that Mugabe wants to retain key posts — believed to be the defence, home affairs, state security and finance ministries.
After Mugabe and Tsvangirai failed to resolve their differences during a meeting Tuesday, the MDC called on Mbeki and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to resume their mediation to break the logjam.
But the chief negotiator for Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party denied any deadlock, saying no outside mediation was needed.
”Anyone who says there is a deadlock is being mischievous. There is commitment on all of us to make things work,” Patrick Chinamasa said.
”If there was a disagreement, as is being suggested, I don’t think it’s one that would justify calling in the facilitator,” Chinamasa said.
”If there are any issues, I believe they can resolve them among themselves,” he added.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the party had already contacted SADC.
”This is an urgent matter, communication lines to SADC have been activated,” Chamisa said.
— AFP
