20100129
africanews

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is holding series of "tough talks" with world political leaders over the fate of his party's involvement in the beleaguered inclusive government. The ruling ZANU PF said until the Westerners lift sanctions on them they would not give in to concessions with the MDC.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai seen attending the Independence celebrations today in Harare 18 April 2009 photo Shepherd Tozvireva
The prime minister’s spokesman James Maridadi told SW Radio Africa in London that Tsvangirai spent much of the last 24 hours in consultations with senior MDC party members on the way forward following ZANU PF's latest ultimatum.

Tsvangirai is currently in Davos, Switzerland attending the World Economic Forum.

"The Prime Minister has come up with a position after consulting senior party members. He's well briefed with what has been happening at home and I'm sure his position would only be known when he engages ZANU PF back home," Maridadi said.

Meanwhile, to highlight the urgency of the escalating crisis the SADC facilitator and South African President Jacob Zuma was due to meet Tsvangirai in Davos on Thursday evening to discuss the issue.

"He's also due to meet Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade. Already he's held bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart as well as with the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete," Maridadi added.

Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF signaled that the talks were as good as dead after communicating their party position on Wednesday. Analysts believe ZANU PF has played into the hands of the MDC, who long wanted the talks declared deadlocked.