The three principals to Zimbabwe's inter-party dialogue have agreed to call back the mediator, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, to assist in resolving outstanding issues related to the allocation of cabinet posts, local media reported on Saturday.
President Robert Mugabe of the ruling ZANU-PF and opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and president of the other MDC (the Movement for Democratic Change) formation Arthur Mutambara met in Harare on Friday as part of consultations on the formation of an inclusive government.
Mbeki is expected in the country next week, according to reports from the Herald.
A member of the ruling Zanu-PF negotiating team Patrick Chinamasa confirmed Friday's meeting, saying the party leaders resolved that Mbeki should be called in to assist in thrashing outthe outstanding areas of concern.
"The three principals met and agreed to call in the facilitator to assist to overcome one or two issues. They held their consultations and agreed that there were issues that needed a facilitator," said Chinamasa.
"As of now, there are no dates that have been agreed, but it might be next week," said Chinamasa.
MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa also confirmed the meeting, adding that the principals resolved that it was in the interest ofall parties that the facilitator be called in.
"Our good understanding and appreciation of the matter is that there is unanimity on the existence of a deadlock, making the assistance or intervention of the mediator necessary, imperative and inevitable. There is a dispute on the allocation of posts of governors and key ministries," said Chamisa.
MDC spokesman Edwin Mushoriwa also confirmed the latest development.
"The principals met and failed to agree and resolved to refer the matter to the facilitator. This means that Mr Mbeki should come and we expect him any time from early next week," he said.
Tsvangirai addressed journalists on Wednesday when he said theagreement had not collapsed contrary to reports from some sectionsof the media, but expressed confidence that the parties, with theassistance of the facilitator, would be able to resolve the issues.
Chinamasa said on Tuesday, negotiators from both political parties had met and failed to agree on their mandate.
He said during the meeting, MDC-T sought to reopen issues that had already been agreed upon while Zanu-PF insisted that they should focus on the remaining two ministries, Finance and Home Affairs.
This resulted in the negotiators resolving to refer the issue back to their principals for guidance. Chinamasa and the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Nicholas Goche, are representing Zanu-PF in the negotiations. MDC-T negotiators are party secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy national treasurer Elton Mangoma while MDC is represented by its secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube and his deputy Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
Source: Xinhua
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