Talks on constitution in Zimbabwe deadlocked, says opposition

ZIMBABWE’S main opposition party said last night that talks with President Robert Mugabe’s government on a constitution were in a deadlock.

Mr Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party and two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are holding talks brokered by the Southern African Development Community, which has asked South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate to combat an economic and political crisis.

ZANU-PF and the opposition have agreed on the need for a constitution, amendment of tough security and media laws and an end to political violence to ensure elections, scheduled for 2008, will be fair.

Yesterday, the decision-making body of the MDC said there were sticking points in the talks, but vowed to continue.

“The National Council took note of the ongoing dialogue process and resolved that we will continue to talk where we have deadlocked,” said MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa. He said a timetable for adopting a new constitution was a major sticking point.

Sources say the MDC wants the constitution adopted before the elections, while ZANU-PF says the introduction should be left to the party that wins.

Mr Mugabe has said joint presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in March next year. This has angered the MDC, which says the date is under negotiation.

Political commentators say the weakness of the opposition means Mr Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s leader since independence from Britain in 1980, is likely to win both votes.

Critics say Mr Mugabe has plunged Zimbabwe into an economic crisis through policies such as the seizure of white-owned farms and plans to nationalise foreign-owned companies.

Mr Mugabe denies the accusations.