afrol News, 1 September - Latest round of power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party Zanu-PF and main opposition Movement for Democratic Change ended without a break thorough.

The talks which resumed over the weekend have once again stalled when President Robert Mugabe and Mr Morgan Tsvangrai disagreed on how executive powers will be divided between the two in future coalition government.

"All the negotiating teams are back. Nothing was achieved in the latest round of engagement in South Africa to break the deadlock. We remain where we were," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.

He said president Mugabe wanted MDC leader to become a titular prime minister without real authority, which he said was unacceptable.

"Mugabe is showing no respect for Southern African Development Community (SADC), no respect for the dialogue," said Chamisa, adding that MDC would lobby African Union and United Nations not to recognise Mr Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president.

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

Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga told Reuters on Sunday that the dialogue would continue, but declined to give details. "It is a continuous process, not a single event," Mr Ratshitanga said.

ZANU-PF's chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa confirmed that they went to South Africa for separate bilateral discussions with facilitator, saying meeting was convened because the facilitator wanted to search for a way forward.

Meanwhile, Mr Chamisa has welcomed government's decision to lift the ban on aid agencies involved in providing food and other forms of assistance. He said the restriction had been an act of madness.

The government had accused some of the agencies of siding with opposition in the run-up to presidential election's second round.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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