Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai Says Power-Sharing Talks On Hold Pending Mediation
It remained to be seen if Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF, which has been insisting that mediation is not needed, would bow to pressure to call ba
Zimbabwe's power-sharing process has stalled and requires intervention by African leaders, Movement for Democratic Change founding president and prime minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday, though he said he has not given up on the possibility of working with President Robert Mugabe to form a national unity government. Tsvangirai said he has appealed to the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to provide mediation, most likely by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who mediated the discussions that led to the power-sharing agreement. It remained to be seen if Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF would bowto pressure to call Mbeki back in. The longtime ruling party has been insisting mediation isnot needed. Contacted by VOA, Labor Minister Nicholas Goche declined to comment on thedeclaration from Tsvangirai that the talks must be suspended until Mbeki stepsin. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, ZANU-PF’s chief negotiator, could not be reached. But diplomatic pressure was mounting on Harare to form a unity government. Sourcessaid Zimbabwe topped the agenda on Thursday when SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salamao met with South African PresidentKgalema Motlanthe. They said Salamao wanted Motlanthe to firmly commit his government to providing Mbekiwith all the support he needs to mediate the stalled process in Harare. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband warned that the positive momentumof Sept. 15 is evaporating, saying British targeted sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle will not be lifted before there is a credible power-sharinggovernment in place.