BYLINE: Basildon Peta
JOHANNESBURG: Former president Thabo Mbeki was due to open talks with Zimbabwean parties last night over their deadlocked power-sharing pact.
But in a sign that Mbeki faces an uphill struggle in helping to break the current stalemate, President Robert Mugabe swore in two vice-presidents in violation of the power-sharing pact signed with Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara last month.
The move infuriated Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). It said it showed the "trademark arrogance and unilateralism of Mugabe, which won't help in resolving any differences".
"They (Zanu-PF) are using guerrilla tactics on the MDC. Everything they do in this dialogue is done in the utmost bad faith," said MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa.
"To help everyone, Mugabe should simply tell the world that he is not interested in sharing power."
None of the negotiators had seen Mbeki at the time of going to press last night, but his spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said he had left for Zimbabwe.
Ratshitanga could not say whether he had landed or was still on his way. This was "a national security question".
Both the MDC and Zanu-PF were on hand to begin discussions with Mbeki straight after his arrival.
It is understood that an initial meeting was planned with Mugabe before Mbeki would meet with Tsvangirai and Mutambara, the leader of the smaller MDC faction.
The swearing in of two Zanu-PF vice-presidents by Mugabe came after he gazetted a notice allocating all key ministries to himself. This leaves the MDC with minor ministries that will give the opposition party no responsibility to rescue the collapsing economy.
The international community, led by the European Union (EU), Mugabe's staunchest critic, has condemned the unilateral move. EU foreign ministers said plans to broaden targeted sanctions on Mugabe cronies were still in place.
Tsvangirai told supporters he would walk out of the power-sharing pact if Mbeki failed to break the deadlock.
Authoritative sources said Mugabe was likely to agree to give the crunch finance portfolio to Tsvangirai in talks with Mbeki.
The ageing Zimbabwean leader would then insist on keeping home affairs, which is responsible for the police, after having already taken defence, another key security portfolio.
But sources said such an arrangement would still be unacceptable to Tsvangirai who wants to have at least one security ministry in addition to finance.
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