Zimbabwe parties resume power-sharing talks

HARARE, Tuesday

Zimbabwe’s feuding political parties have resumed talks to iron out differences impeding the work of the coalition government amid pressure from South Africa to conclude the negotiations.

President Jacob Zuma dispatched his three representatives to meet negotiators from Manu PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formations, which make up Harare’s unity government.

The negotiations were suspended two weeks ago with the parties rejecting any chance of compromise.

President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF has vowed not make any compromises until Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC calls for the lifting of sanctions against his ruler’s inner circle.

Mr Tsvangirai has said elections will be the only solution in view of Zanu PF’s intransigence.

On Monday the Zanu PF and the MDC negotiators met the South African facilitation team to brief them on the progress.

The talks later kicked off in the evening but the parties are keeping a tight lid on their progress.

MDC spokesperson, Mr Nelson Chamisa reiterated the party’s position that if South Africa fails to break the deadlock, the parties must prepare for fresh elections.