[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Mbeki on Zim - who needs him?

[Patrick Bond]

(What a sad reversal. MDC-T has regularly proclaimed that Mbeki was a 
barrier to solving the deep-seated problems, and indeed he was/is. 
Zanu(PF) desperately needed Mbeki to shore up the dictatorship. Now 
things have slid so far backwards that Mbeki is seen as a potential MDC 
ally - even though if he does go to Harare to band-aid the deal, it will 
be done in a manner favourable to Mugabe. Is this the way others see it?)

Zanu-PF rejects call for Mbeki's help

October 02, 2008 Edition 1

HARARE: Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party has rejected an opposition call for 
ex-South African president Thabo Mbeki to intervene to salvage a 
power-sharing deal after the two sides failed to agree on a cabinet.

Mbeki mediated the deal between Robert Mugabe and opposition leader 
Morgan Tsvangirai to form a unity government.

The agreement, signed on September 15, was hailed as a breakthrough in 
Zimbabwe's political crisis after Mugabe lost a first round of elections 
in March.

Negotiations are bogged down on the formation of a cabinet, with 
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change 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 on Tuesday, the MDC called on 
Mbeki and the Southern African Development Community 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 from 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. If there are any 
issues, I believe they can resolve them among themselves.".

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the party had already contacted the 
15-nation SADC. "This is an urgent matter, communication lines to SADC 
have been activated," he said.

Mbeki's forced resignation as South Africa's president last week raised 
concerns about the fragile pact he had brokered to divide power between 
Mugabe as president and Tsvangirai in the new post of prime minister.

Mugabe said on Monday that a new government would be formed by the end 
of the week, but that now appears a dim prospect.

Southern African Development Community spokesman Charles Mubita said 
yesterday that Mbeki was the only channel for handling Zimbabwe's 
crisis. - Sapa-AFP