Uncertain Impact Of Pretoria Political Turmoil On Zimbabwe Situation
The African National Congress says the Southern African Development Community should decide whether Mr. Mbeki remains Zimbabwe mediator
Resolution of the crisis in Zimbabweseems likely to be hindered by the political crisis in Pretoria where South African President Thabo Mbeki, mediator in the talks that yielded thepower-sharing arrangement in Harare, has stepped down as president underpressure from his African National Congress party. Sources in Zimbabwe's former ruling ZANU-PF party and bothformations of the majority Movement for Democratic Change say events in Pretoria willslow down the process in Harare. The three parties are concerned that Mr. Mbeki haslost his clout and a new government might limit his influence in various ways. Meanwhile, following lastweek’s signature of a power-sharing accord, cooperation has hit a snag over thecomposition of the new government's cabinet. ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is front runner to step in as interim president forthe balance of Mr. Mbeki’s term until elections are held in April 2009. South Africa’s parliamentary speaker, Baleka Mbete, said the swearing in of a new president will take place on Thursday,following the interim president's election by parliament. . In Harare, meanwhile, the logjam overministerial portfolios remained unresolved. The principals in the power-sharingdeal referred the question to the negotiators of the accord, who have in turn issuedtheir recommendations to the principals. But with President Robert Mugabe in New York for the United Nations General Assembly there is little immediate prospectfor the formation of a cabinet. Amidst stalled power-sharing, the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai expressed dismay Monday that state media continue to attack the party's leadership despite clauses in the accord prohibiting this.