Zimbabwe’s leaders urged toshow ‘maturity’

SOUTH AFRICAN president Kgalema Motlanthe urged Zimbabwe’s political leaders to show “maturity” as they entered crunch talks yesterday aimed at saving their troubled power-sharing deal.

Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed a unity accord on September 15, but disputes over which party will control the most powerful ministries threatens to sink the deal.

The emergency summit of the Southern African Development Community is seen as a make-or-break effort to salvage the accord and end the turmoil that erupted after Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in presidential elections in March.

“The political leadership in Zimbabwe owe it to the people of Zimbabwe and the region to show political maturity,” Motlanthe said at the opening of the summit in Johannesburg.

“The historic power-sharing agreement remains the only vehicle to help extricate Zimbabwe from her socio-economic challenges,” he said.

“It is, however, disappointing. It is two months since the signing of the agreement and parties have still been unable to conclude the discussions on the formation of an inclusive government.”

The entire deal threatens to collapse over who will take the home affairs ministry, which controls the police.

Tsvangirai argues that his party should oversee the police to reassure his supporters against the threat of new violence. Mugabe has claimed the defence ministry for his Zanu-PF party.