The talks to iron out issues still outstanding from implementation of a 2008 power-sharing agreement between Mugabe's ZANU PF party and the two MDC formations led by Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara have dragged on since the former foes agreed to join hands in February 2009 in a coalition government that has been credited with stabilising the country’s economy.
Negotiators from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations concluded talks on April 3 2010 and gave their final report to Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara and Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator South African President Jacob Zuma.
But since April 3 the principals have failed to meet due to tight schedules.
Speaking on condition that their names were not published the sources said Mugabe and Tsvangirai held deliberations from 2pm until 3pm but failed to tackle the contentious issues bedeviling the coalition government, among them Mugabe’s recent appointment of five new judges that the MDC says was done behind its back.
According to the sources Mugabe and Tsvangirai could not deliberate the negotiators’ report without Mutambara, who is reportedly in Ghana where is leading a Zimbabwean business delegation until June 7.
“They would not discuss anything meaningful such as the final report and other issues affecting the government in the absence of Mutambara. They spoke largely about the government operations and not necessarily the outstanding or contentious issues,” said a government source privy to the meeting.
“They also had their usual tea,” added the source.
The three principals have failed to meet since they were given the final report due to tight regional and international schedules. Mugabe has been to Iran and other regional countries while Tsvangirai has been to the United States, South Korea and South Africa in the past two months, making it extremely difficult for the principals to meet.
While Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba was not immediately available to confirm the Monday’s meeting, Tsvangirai’s spokesman James Maridadi said “nothing substantive” came out of the meeting.
“The principals discussed the inclusive government, but nothing concrete came out of it,” said Maridadi.
Two week’s ago Zuma’s international relations advisor, Lindiwe Zulu, who is also a member of the South African leader's facilitation team in the Harare talks, said Zuma’s mediation effort in Zimbabwe is being thwarted by failure by the three principals in the Harare coalition to meet to discuss the final report.
Zulu said the facilitation team, which also includes former Cabinet ministers Charles Nqakula and Mac Maharaj, was waiting for Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara to first meet and deliberate on the negotiators' report before the South Africans can resume their mediation process.
She said Zuma’s next visit to Zimbabwe depended on the principals’ recommendations to him on the way forward regarding the contentious issues. – ZimOnline
