Mbeki in Zimbabwe to broker deal

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-14-2008 09:36

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is back in Zimbabwe in a bid to mend a deteriorating power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition.

South Africa's former President Thabo Mbeki(C) is welcomed by Zimbabwe's minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Mumbengegwi(L)on his arrival in Harare. (AFP/Desmond Kwande)

Mbeki brokered a power-sharing pact in mid-September between Mugabe's party and Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition party, but the deal has come under threat as the two sides haggle over cabinet posts.

Mugabe has sworn in two vice presidents ahead of talks on forming a cabinet. Analysts say the move is likely to further jeopardize negotiations.

For the first time since the country's independence from Britain in 1980, Mugabe's party goes into the new parliament stripped of a majority.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe (left), Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (centre) and former South African  leader Thabo Mbeki shake hands after signing a power- sharing accord on September 15.(AFP/File/Desmond Kwande)

This makes it necessary for the party to work with the opposition in order to run an effective government, and also to deal with the country's economic problems including high inflation.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei