afrol News, 8 September - South Africa's president Thabo Mbeki arrived in Zimbabwean capital, Harare, late today in a bid to revive country's deadlocked power-sharing talks, amid growing doubts over his chances of success.

Both president Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai claim to have won this year's elections, marred by widespread violence.

Mr Tsvangirai said yesterday that he would rather quit talks than sign a bad deal and challenged Mr Mugabe to hold a new election.

For his part, president Mugabe has threatened to form a government alone if opposition leader did not sign a deal last week.

Post-election talks are deadlocked over how to share executive powers between the two rivals, putting off any chance of rescuing Zimbabwe from its economic collapse.

South African ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa earlier today confirmed Mr Mbeki would meet leaders of Zimbabwe's negotiating parties in Harare to seek a new round-off on the talks' dead end.

Mr Tsvangirai beat Mr Mugabe in 29 March election but fell short of enough votes to avoid a June run-off, which was won by the later unopposed, after the former pulled out, citing violence and intimidation against his supporters.

Mr Mbeki, mandated by regional countries to mediate in Zimbabwe talks, has come under repeated fire for not being tough enough with Zimbabwe's president.

Other southern African leaders have taken a harder line against ruling ZANU PF leader, but he has refused to budge, and MDC has made it clear it has little faith in Mr Mbeki as a mediator.

Before talks broke down, two rivals had agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be named prime minister while Mr Mugabe remained president, but they could not agree on how to share powers.

MDC wanted Mr Mugabe to become a ceremonial president, while ruling Zanu-PF party insisted he retain control of security forces and powers to appoint and dismiss ministers.

Mr Tsvangirai has promised his supporters during a rally yesterday marking party's ninth anniversary that he would not change his position in power-sharing talks even if pressured by Mr Mbeki.

Election run-off was condemned around world and drew toughened sanctions from western countries whose support is vital for reviving Zimbabwe's ruined economy.

A smaller, breakaway faction of MDC, led by Arthur Mutambara, is third party in negotiations aimed at forming a national unity government.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories