Zimbabwe: Mbeki in Harare With 'New Talks Proposal'
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
4 September 2008
Posted to the web 4 September 2008
Dumisani Muleya
Johannesburg
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki is expected in Harare today to make a renewed bid to break the deadlock in power-sharing talks between President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mbeki is understood to have held brief talks with Mugabe and Tsvangirai yesterday in Lusaka at the funeral of Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa.
Sources said Mbeki was expected to propose that all Mugabe's executive powers be discussed and ways be found of dividing them equally between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
Mbeki is likely to propose that the two men co-chair the cabinet and that details of Tsvangirai's position and powers be spelt out when he meets the two men and Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a breakaway MDC faction.
"Mbeki is expected to bring new proposals which he would discuss with Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara. He seems to believe that the parties are deadlocked but there is still a huge chance of a breakthrough if viable offers are tabled," a diplomatic source said.
"The parties appear far apart on a difficult yet straightforward issue. But if both sides move in the right direction just a bit, a solution could be easily found."
Mbeki's proposals could include a new document on the role of the prime minister in an envisaged inclusive government. A new plan might entail expanded and consolidated powers for the prime minister.
It is understood the revised document could outline what powers Mugabe would retain compared to what Tsvangirai would get.
Under an existing proposal, Tsvangirai would be the prime minister and deputy cabinet chairman, whose responsibility entailed "overseeing the formulation of policies".
The prime minister would also ensure the implementation of policies agreed to by the cabinet. The proposal says Mugabe and Tsvangirai would agree on the "allocation of ministries between them for the purposes of day-to-day supervision".
Tsvangirai would conduct government business in parliament and advise Mugabe on key appointments. He would sit in the National Security Council, currently known as the Joint Operations Command. The body, which brings army, police and intelligence chiefs together, is Mugabe's power base.
However, Tsvangirai has refused to sign an agreement under these proposals, saying they would make him a weaker partner in a Mugabe-dominated government. He wants the agreement to specifically say he would be head of government before he signs.
Mugabe has refused to concede, saying he would be left as a ceremonial president.
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Mutambara's faction says the proposal on the prime minister's powers is " realistic in the circumstances".
Read comments. Write your own.
mutambara's words are just one more example as to why he is being called the HEAD OF THE SELL-OUTS COMMISSION in Zimbabwe.
I wish this be true. The nation is waiting for tabled duty roasters for Mugabe and Tsvangirai. Zimbabwe has more forward looking and extremely intelligent folk who can study what is on table. We just want the Tsvangirai-Mugabe problems behind us so either they pull together as bedfellows or they just disappear from our political board.
Mbeki should stop fooling around or stop lunatic Mugabe from fooling him!
Murderer Mugabe has been dumped by his own electorate last March inspite of the fact that he terrorised millions of voters out of the country prior to the elections!
Nothing less than his immediate transfer of executive power would help redress the chaotic situation he has created!
Everybody knows about his frail health and poor mental judgement. How damn right is Chamisa when he reportedly said about today's last talks: "If anything, it is a last chance for Mugabe to see the light. If he doesn't, it will… [Read Full Text]
tsvangirai should never be allowed to hold zimbabwe people at ransom .We all know that the empty vessel refused to sign what he initially agreed to because Britain and U.S didn't approve it..Mbeki has to pressurise that clueless MDC leader to sign the deal indorsed by SADC and never allow Britain to determine the outcome of these talks.People have to look at the core of the Zim crisis which is the land issue dispute between ZIM and Britain...Tsvangirai and his friends are mere proxies whose relevance to a lasting… [Read Full Text]
What a load of nonsense. The only people that care about the "land crisis" in this world is Mugabe and is deluded followers. Britain has moved on, they dont care about Zimbabwean land anymore and if you ask most of the British people, they are happy that land is now in the hands of Zimbabweans. The only people that keep piping on about land is Mugabe and his followers trying to create and enemy in Britain to in turn give themselves a position of power.
The SADC never endorsed the plan. Why do you make up such lies. Tsvangarai does… [Read Full Text]
What a load of nonsense. The only people that care about the "land crisis" in this world is Mugabe and is deluded followers. Britain has moved on, they dont care about Zimbabwean land anymore and if you ask most of the British people, they are happy that land is now in the hands of Zimbabweans. The only people that keep piping on about land is Mugabe and his followers trying to create and enemy in Britain to in turn give themselves a position of power.
The SADC never endorsed the plan. Why do you make up such lies. Tsvangarai does… [Read Full Text]
What a load of nonsense. The only people that care about the "land crisis" in this world is Mugabe and is deluded followers. Britain has moved on, they dont care about Zimbabwean land anymore and if you ask most of the British people, they are happy that land is now in the hands of Zimbabweans. The only people that keep piping on about land is Mugabe and his followers trying to create and enemy in Britain to in turn give themselves a position of power.
The SADC never endorsed the plan. Why do you make up such lies. Tsvangarai does… [Read Full Text]
Hey my nice muzungu, Mugabe is not the individual you are always insulting but a living Concept. The death of a Great person like our President will embolden his followers. The Mugabe concept lives on long after the great leader is deceased. Watch this space.
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President Mbeki please be frank with us, these talks are dead.Give others a chance.