Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe talks on Draft Bill must address outstanding issues - MDC

Harare - Zimbabwe's opposition, the MDC, is expecting constitutional talks with President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU PF party this week to also address all outstanding issues including equitable sharing of power in a proposed unity government.

Zimbabwe's rival parties are expected to meet in South Africa on Tuesday to discuss a Draft Constitutional Bill that would allow President Mugabe to form a unity government outlined under a power-sharing agreement signed on 15 September.

The deal has stalled as the Morgan Tsvangirai-led opposition MDC party and ZANU PF fight over control of key ministries, distribution of gubernatorial posts, ambassadorships and other top government posts.

There had been fears the MDC - which has refused to join the unity government until all its demands are met - could boycott this week's meeting called by mediator former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: "To the extent that all outstanding issues are going to be addressed the participation of the MDC becomes inevitable and obvious."

Mr Mbeki's spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga was not immediately available on Sunday to shed light on whether the meeting will be limited to reviewing Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill or it would discuss all issues pertaining to the power-sharing agreement.

But the regional SADC grouping ruled two weeks ago that MDC and ZANU PF jointly control the ministry of home affairs that had been in dispute and ordered the rivals to immediately form a unity government - a ruling that appeared to close debate on the other issues that the MDC still wants discussed.

The MDC rejected the ruling and accused SADC - which is the guarantor to the power-sharing accord - of siding with Mr Mugabe.

Meanwhile, SADC chairman, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe on Sunday has appealed to Zimbabwe's political parties to begin constitutional processes that will create a unity government.

President Motlanthe made the appeal after holding a meeting with Botswana President Ian Khama on Sunday.

"We agreed that with regards to Zimbabwe the next step really is to ensure that we unblock the impasse for them to take amendment 19 through the senate and the assembly, so that Mr Tsvangirai could be sworn in as prime minister and Arthur Mutambara as the vice prime minister and Mr Mugabe as the president," President Motlanthe said.

President Khama has openly criticised Mr Mugabe for continuing to cling to power and called for new elections in Zimbabwe should the power-sharing agreement collapse - a call rejected by Harare as unwarranted interference in Zimbabwe's affairs.

Zimbabweans hope a power-sharing government would help ease the political situation and allow the country to focus on tackling an economic crisis marked by the world's highest inflation rate of 231 million percent, severe shortages of food and basic commodities. - BuaNews-NNN