afrol News, 29 August - Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks between president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will resume in South Africa, Aziz Pahad, South Africa's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, said.

Zimbabwe's talks reached a dead end after two weeks when leaders disagreed on how executive power will be divided between the two in future coalition government.

"All the relevant players are here in South Africa at the moment and I think the length of the discussions will be determined by what progress they make. I don't think there's any limit or any deadline," Mr Pahad told media.

He expressed his hope that talks would lead to finalisation of the political of outstanding matters for Zimbabwe to start with a normalisation of political, economic and humanitarian situation.

However, main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said its negotiating team had not reached South Africa. "It is not true that MDC delegation has arrived in South Africa for the talks," spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.

A smaller opposition faction led by Mr Arthur Mutambara taking part in the talks had arrived, its spokesman said.

"Our negotiators are in South Africa for the talks. The talks are resuming this weekend," said the spokesman Edwin Mushoriwa.

Before the talks broke up earlier this month, both sides agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be named prime minister but they could not agree on how to divide powers between him and Mr Mugabe.

Mugabe, whose ruling ZANU-PF party lost its majority in March elections, was jeered and heckled during his speech to the opening of parliament on Monday. The veteran leader has insisted on forming a government without the opposition, because of a lack of progress in the talks.

Divisions remain over how Mugabe, 84, and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, would share power in a national unity government, including what authority they would have as president and prime minister.

The parties are also divided over how long a transitional government would remain in place, according to a South African official.

The MDC wants a clause in the agreement stating that elections be held within 90 days of either of the parties pulling out of the unity government, said official.

Zimbabwe has lifted a ban on aid agencies suspended before the runoff election, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a government statement. Humanitarian assistance had been stopped after the government accused some agencies of supporting the opposition, it said.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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