ZIMBABWE — PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki is expected to return to Zimbabwe today to try to resuscitate the power-sharing talks, which are threatened by Robert Mugabe’s vow to form a cabinet that excludes the opposition.

 

George Sibotshiwe, spokesman for Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told The Times of South Africa yesterday that his party’s negotiating team had been informed that Mbeki would be in Harare today to meet them and Zanu-PF negotiators.

 

 

He said Tsvangirai would participate in Mbeki’s meeting before flying to South Africa for “private meetings related to the talks”.

But Mbeki’s spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said he could not confirm the visit to Zimbabwe.

 

The presidency, he said, would make an announcement if Mbeki left the country.

Mbeki is scheduled to chair a meeting of his economic advisory panel this morning.

Yesterday, Zimbabwe’s state-owned The Herald newspaper quoted President Mugabe as saying he would set up a government and appoint ministers “soon” .

He was reportedly speaking at a lunch marking the official opening of parliament on Tuesday.

The newspaper quoted him as saying: “We shall soon be setting up a government.

 

The MDC does not want to come in, apparently. This time they have been promised by the British that sanctions would be more devastating, that in six months’ time the government will collapse.

“I need managers. I want workers — people who take people to work. I do not want people with [their] own businesses. I want one business — the people’s business.”

The 84-year-old’s comments provoked stiff criticism from the MDC, which accused him of “thuggery” and “going against the hard work that Zimbabweans have put into the [power-sharing] talks”.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: “Everyone knows that Mugabe can do whatever he wants, but he needs to know that he is driving the country backwards into a ditch.”

Mugabe was “acting in bad faith”, given that the power- sharing talks had not been concluded and that both the MDC factions — Tsvangirai’s and the smaller one led by Arthur Mutambara — had maintained that they would not participate in Mugabe’s government, Chamisa said.

He urged Mugabe to go back to the negotiating table so that the “grey areas” that have stalled the talks — and the formation of a transitional government — could be dealt with.

“They can choose to go ahead, but I can assure you that Mugabe will not get any co-operation from the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe. It’s time he realises that this country is bigger than him and his Zanu-PF,” Chamisa said.

Attempts to get the parties to sign an agreement drew a blank at the recent Southern African Development Community summit, when Tsvangirai refused a deal that would make him prime minister and assure Mugabe, as president, of keeping his executive authority.

Attempts to get comment from Zanu-PF failed.

 

 

 

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