Deal expected as Zimbabwe begins talks on unity government

Senior negotiators from Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling ZANU-PF party began talks yesterday and a report indicated they were close to reaching a deal on forming a unity government.

The talks were underway yesterday, South African President Thabo Mbeki’s spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said.

Senior MDC officials and two Zimbabwean cabinet ministers were leading the rival negotiating teams, meeting at an undisclosed venue around the South African capital Pretoria.