Zim Cabinet talks in doubt

[AS was published on the main ZimEye website]

Zim Cabinet talks in doubt - Staff Reporter 06-10-08 Harare (ZimEye) Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change has refuted reports that negotiations to conclude the impasse on the allocation of cabinet posts in the inclusive government were to resume on Monday.
MDC-T spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said no indication had been made on the resumption of the negotiations and that a deadlock on the talks still stands. "We have never had any indications on the meeting by negotiators of the three parties. There was no consultation whatsoever. We are currently in a deadlock." "We are still yet to agree on the said four posts and the entire cabinet. There is no agreement that was reached on what the Herald is saying the remaining four posts were narrowed to two on Saturday," Chamisa said. The state broadsheet, The Herald quoted one of ZANU PF’s negotiators saying talks would resume Monday. "We are most likely to meet tomorrow (Monday)," Nicholas Goche is reported to have said. The parties have been disagreeing on the allocation of four cabinet posts, but the Herald reports that a meeting held on Saturday by the two principals had narrowed them to two posts. Chamisa added that the current situation is now calling for the intervention of SADC and the African Union who are the guarantees to the power sharing agreement. It is not clear whether former South African President Thabo Mbeki will return to Harare to try and bring the deal to finality or another mediator will be appointed. Independent analysts say the return of Mbeki to Harare is an indictment on Mugabe who promised the world that a government was going to be formed by end of last week. The impasse between the political parties has continued to worsen the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. Over five million Zimbabweans are in dire need of food aid where in some areas people are surviving on wild fruits. The new cabinet will have 31 ministries, 15 led by ZANU PF while MDC Tsvangirai will have 13 and Mutambara 3. The SADC and AU backed talks saw the country’s three main parties last month signing an agreement to form an inclusive government. Zimbabweans are waiting for the conclusion of the negotiations and hoping it would bring normalcy to an economy that is ailing

2litre Mazoe goes for 4 US Dollars

Harare (ZimEye) As the Zimbabwean dollar plunged into yet another spiral terrain, supermarkets began pegging prices in both Zim dollar and US dollar values on their shelves, a new move after the Reserve Bank governor relaxed foreign currency regulations. Many Supermarkets were seen placing US Dollar price tags to their shelves on Thursday.
'The situation is unbearable and really insane' said one Alan Matombo of Warren Park 1 in Harare.
Who can afford such exaggeration?
He shouted as he gave his account after coming from a local supermarket in the township of Warren Park.,
The Zimbabwean Dollar has become so scarce that the US dollar has become the virtual Zimbabwean currency in in the recent months.

Mugabe comes out joyful and smiling after deal signing

Robert Mugabe came out of Rainbow Tours Hotel grinning and smiling as Thabo Mbeki announced that a deal has now been struck and as speculation that Mugabe has been given the green leaf to remain in power began to settle down people's throats on Thursday eve.

'The rest of the world needs to respect that the Zimbabwean people have taken their own decision about the future of their own country and people, and the rest of us who are foreigners need to respect what the people of Zimbabwe have said and think...' South African President Thabo Mbeki said emphatically without going into detail.

Mr Mbeki went on to point that the deal which had already been signed today would be sealed and officially released on Monday the 15th November.

Asked by one journalist if the deal proposal had been a brainchild of the African Union, Mr Mbeki replied.

'We have never received any proposal of any kind from the African Union about these negotiations organically... there have never been any such thing...'

Mr Mbeki also denied the allegations speculated in the media that South Africa had come under any pressure or threats to the effect of South Africa loosing the 2010 FIFA World Cup bid which South Africa is hosting. He said that South Africa has always been involved in the problems of Zimbabwe since 1998 when the problems started.

'The document which the principals signed today and will seal on Monday the 15th November will be released on that day'

The signed deal was also said to have been unanimously agreed by all the parties and Mbeki expressed satisfaction to it.

Mr Tsvangirai had wanted Mugabe to be reduced to the level of a ceremonial President while he would gain executive powers to govern. However, as both parties went out of the meeting on Thursday, it was clear with a smiling Mugabe that Tsvangirai had not won this demand.

The MDC leader came out of Rainbow Tours confirming to journalists that he now has a deal but would by no means nor in any way go into the details - ZimEye