- Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has rejected African Union call for speedy 50-50 power-sharing deal with opposition, though it has pronounced its commitment to power sharing talks.
Latest round of talks stalled over the weekend when president Mugabe and Mr Morgan Tsvangrai disagreed on how executive powers will be divided between the two in future coalition government.
Tanzania which is currently holding chairmanship of AU, urged for a rapid resolution of Zimbabwe's extended power-sharing negotiations so that all parties involved can turn their attention to the country's accelerating economic meltdown.
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said AU wants to see a 50-50 power-sharing deal allocating equal powers to president Robert Mugabe and to Morgan Tsvangirai.
"There is a problem and we still hope the mediation will continue and we still hope wisdom will prevail. We would prefer a solution be arrived at immediately because of the escalating economic crisis," Mr Membe said.
Political analysts said a call by AU is an admission that Southern African Development Community-mediated peace negotiations have failed to yield a lasting solution to Zimbabwe's ongoing economic and political crises.
The political climate in the country has become more embittered since reopening last week of parliament, during which MDC lawmakers heckled president Mugabe.
Mr Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has reacted angrily to the incident. The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Tuesday that longtime ruling party has sent video footage of the raucous session to South African president Thabo Mbeki, mediator in the talks, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa calling it evidence the MDC seeks regime change.
The power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the main opposition MDC reportedly stalled over how to share executive power between Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who refused to sign an agreement two weeks ago that would have made him prime minister because it did not give him enough executive powers.
The power-sharing talks that began in late July have been snagged for weeks on the question of executive powers. Some sources said the gap between the sides is widening.
Meanwhile, political tensions were reported to be spreading from the talks and parliament to local councils.
MDC officials in Manicaland province said riot police and ZANU-PF militia on Tuesday disrupted the swearing-in of councilors at the rural district council offices in Makoni, Rusape.
They said the police and ZANU-PF militants forcibly ejected three MDC members of parliament from proceedings and assaulted MDC supporters in attendance.
Zimbabwe's inflation of 11 million percent, marking the world's highest inflation rate, and exacerbated food crisis has been blamed on European and US sanctions that target people and companies linked to president Mugabe.
But critics blame Zimbabwe's troubles on repression and wrong polices by veteran leader such as his haphazard fast-track land reform exercise that displaced established white commercial farmers, resulting to severe food shortages.
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