Mugabe Meets With Opposition Leader for Crisis Talks

Posted on Aug 11, 2008

USAF / Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Lock

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, pictured, was still ensconced in a Harare hotel with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday in an attempt to work out some kind of power-sharing arrangement with his rival for the presidency in this year’s protracted and controversial election process. But after a weekend of intense talks, nobody had signed on any dotted lines.

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allAfrica.com:

Journalists waiting outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on Monday said the politicians are tightlipped and no information was forthcoming. Associated Press correspondent Angus Shaw said a table had been set up at the hotel for the signing ceremony, just in case agreement was reached.

“They are clearly anticipating there will be some signing, however we do understand that the principal sticking point is the sharing of powers and what powers Mr Mugabe will retain; what will be his executive role and what will be Morgan Tsvangirai’s executive role.”

No one apart from the leaders of the political parties actually knows what the details are and some analysts believe the media is being used to make it look as if progress is being made, when in actual fact there is no agreement, on any issue. Some MDC officials outside the negotiations have also said they don’t see any signs of a breakthrough. They also feel that Mugabe and Mbeki would like to make it look as if Tsvangirai is the problem.

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