20100329
allafrica

Harare — Zimbabwe's feuding political parties look set to miss yet another deadline to conclude talks on outstanding issues from their power sharing agreement with indications that sharp differences have started to emerge.

South African President Jacob Zuma who was appointed by the Southern African Development Community to mediate in the negotiations between the three governing parties in the unity government had given the negotiators up to March 31 to round off the talks.

President Zuma a fortnight ago raised hopes that the 18 month inclusive government's reform agenda was back on track when he announced that President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Tsvangirai had agreed on" a package of measures."

But Mr Mugabe on Friday told a meeting of his party's central committee that there would be no deal in the talks until sanctions imposed on his inner circle by the West were reversed.

The ageing leader said he was not going to give in to MDC demands that he must fire his trusted lieutenants heading the central bank and the Attorney General's office.

He also rubbished reports that he had agreed to swear in MDC treasurer general Mr Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister and a formula for the appointment of provincial governors.

MDC says it was taken aback by President Mugabe's outbursts because it believed that the talks were being finalised.

"We are shocked," said MDC spokesman, Mr Nelson Chamisa. "It's a Zanu PF political summersault and we don't know the motivation for this.

"If they are not politicking, it means we will be going back to President Jacob Zuma for arbitration."

The political agreement signed between Zanu PF and the two MDC formations spells out a timetable for elections next year, which will follow a referendum on a new constitution.

However, progress hinges on the parties concluding the negotiations on time and implementing key reforms.

Mr Tsvangirai on Thursday is set to present an ambitious plan that would see government relaxing draconian media and security laws by the end of the year but analysts say its success would be undermined by the discord in the coalition.

Western donors have refused to help the one year old unity government revive the country's battered economy until the power sharing agreement is fully implemented.