Zimbabwe Prime Minister - designate Morgan Tsvangirai, who returned home after more than two months out the country, has been briefed by his Movement for Democratic Change executives. President Robert Mugabe says Mr. Tsvangarai should either join an interim government or end all negotiations for an inclusive administration.
Zimbabwe Prime Minister - designate Morgan Tsvangirai was briefed by and consulted with his party's national leadership, before what is being seen as a last chance for an inclusive government.
MDC official Nelson Chamisa said after the meeting, the Movement for Democratic Change is sticking to its position the division of government ministries is not equitable, that the personnel in a national security council must be negotiated, and governors must be re-appointed by the president to fairly reflect election results last March.
Mr. Tsvangirai is to meet Monday with President Robert Mugabe, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and Mozambican leader Armando Guebuza at a regional mini-summit on the Zimbabwe crisis and the political impasse.
In an interview in the state-controlled Sunday Mail, Mr. Mugabe said Mr. Tsvangirai should get into the power-sharing deal signed last September or end negotiations over the implementation of the agreement.
He was quoted saying: "This is the occasion when it is either they accept or it is a break. After all, this is an interim agreement. If they have any issues they deem outstanding, they can raise them after they come into the inclusive government."
The Movement for Democratic Change says it wants its outstanding issues dealt with before the formation of an inclusive government. One MDC parliament member said there is no way they could take risks and that manage outstanding issues with Zanu PF after a unity government is formed.
The MDC has a one-seat majority in parliament, and Zanu PF won six more seats than the MDC in the senate.
People on the street, battling a cholera epidemic that is moving towards 2,500 deaths and more than 40,000 infected, say they are desperate for some kind of solution to their present situation.
A special projects officer from the pro-democracy group the National Constitutional Assembly, Tonderai Nyahunzvi, is hoping an inclusive government can be formed soon.
"The government of national unity, to me, brings two political parties together so that they can continue to govern minus their differences without any hidden agendas," said Tonderai Nyahunzvi.
More than 30 people, mostly MDC supporters abducted from their homes since October are in detention facing serious charges of plotting to topple Mr. Mugabe. The police have refused to obey a High Court order to release them.
Mr. Tsvangirai has said he wants them all released before he will go into an inclusive government.
Meanwhile, two white commercial farmers from central Zimbabwe reported Sunday the Zanu PF leader of the senate, Edna Madzongwe, has sent messages she is moving onto their properties Monday. She already has several farms seized from whites, and the farmers have High Court orders protecting their continued occupation of their land.
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