Opposition Gloomy As Regional Leaders Discuss Harare Impasse

Southern African leaders were attempting to end the deadlock over Zimbabwe's power-sharing government yesterday, but opposition leaders in Harare were not optimistic of a breakthrough.

South Africa's president, Kgalema Motlanthe, called on Zimbabwe's political leaders to "show political maturity" in resolving a dispute over the allocation of cabinet seats under the deal signed in September, which saw Robert Mugabe remain president and Morgan Tsvangirai, winner of Zimbabwe's last credible election, appointed prime minister.

But Tsvangirai has refused to take up his post as long as Mugabe insists on controlling all key ministries, including those responsible for security and for finance.

The emergency summit of the 15-state Southern African Development Community (Sadc), meeting in Johannesburg, is the highest-level diplomatic intervention in the crisis to date.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it was not confident Sadc had the will to apply sufficient pressure on Mugabe. But Motlanthe has indicated that he would toughen his government's stance towards Mugabe. The "quiet diplomacy" of Motlanthe's predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, was accused of helping Mugabe to perpetuate his rule and suppress the opposition.

Zimbabwe's state-run press said Mugabe would not give up key ministries. The justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa, said the government had agreed to joint control of the interior ministry, which controls the police. "The proposals are on the table and the ball is in Tsvangirai's court," he said.