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No Deal: Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Fail
by jordan | August 17, 2008 at 11:50 am | 175 views | 2 comments | 15 recommendations
The BBC uses the word "stalemate" in its headline, but this isn't quite accurate: current President Robert Mugabe holds all the cards, and Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party could well be frozen out of the newly-reformed government following fruitless power-sharing talks in Harare.
Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition have been unable to reach a power-sharing agreement at a regional summit of Southern African leaders.
"We're finished," said George Sibotshiwe, spokesperson for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, referring to Tsvangirai's meetings with regional leaders[q url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7566257.stm"]
Mr Tsvangirai told the New York Times that the most basic issue of how he and Mr Mugabe would share power remained unsettled, and there were limits to the compromises he could make.
“It's better not to have a deal than to have a bad deal,” Mr Tsvangirai told the newspaper.
Sticking-points in the power-sharing talks are reported to include
- the balance of power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai
- the make-up of any coalition cabinet
- control of Zimbabwe's security forces
- the possibility of an amnesty over post-election violence
at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Johannesburg.
Asked if there was an agreement, he said: "No, not at all." [/q]The elements that ZANU-PF and MDC could not agree upon (listed above) are really just an enumeration of the disputes raised by the recent compromised election.
August 17, 2008 at 11:50 am by jordan, 175 views, 2 comments
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 12:12 on August 17th, 2008
jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.
What next?
at 14:48 on August 17th, 2008
jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I agree with your skepticism Jordan. It's easier to climb Mt. Everest than it is to take a dictator away from his power. What would you do if you were Morgan Tsvangirai?