Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Walks Out of Unity Talks

Zimbabwe’s power-sharing talks appeared to have collapsed Tuesday after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai walked out of the meeting venue in protest, APA learned. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader refused to comment on the outcome of the talks as he left Harare’s Rainbow Towers Hotel where he had met with President Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC faction to discuss a power-sharing deal for the past three days.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating in Zimbabwe’s post-election crisis, was expected to issue a statement later.

The power-sharing talks have dragged on since Sunday amid reports the leaders could not agree on where real power would reside, with both Mugabe and Tsvangirai insisting they must lead the next government.

Mugabe expressed confidence on Monday that differences would be resolved and a deal be signed.

The latest developments could worsen Zimbabwe’s political crisis, blamed for the country’s eight-year economic meltdown manifested in the world’s highest inflation of more than two million percent and shortages of fuel, food and electricity.

The collapse of the talks also leaves Mbeki in a tricky situation ahead of a potentially explosive summit of the Southern African development Community (SADC) this weekend in South Africa.

The South African leader takes over the SADC chair from ailing Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa and was hoping to report positive results from his mediation role.

Other SADC member states have been critical of Mbeki’s handling of the Zimbabwe crisis, with Botswana saying it would boycott the summit if there is no positive deal in Harare.

Source African Press Agency

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