(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai under pressure from own party

Tsvangirai under pressure from own party
Ralph Mutema
Mon, 18 May 2009 19:16:00 +0000

PRIME MINISTER Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under increasing pressure following an inclusive Government stalemate.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wants the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU) to help resolve the impasse which centres on disputes over the sharing of civil servant positions -- permanent secretaries, Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana.

The two formations of the MDC would also like to share provincial governor and diplomatic posts with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF party. .

"I'm pleased to announce that on the outstanding issues, we're making progress and we'll be making announcements on those issues,” said Tsvangirai.

The Prime Minister has to convince his own party about the sincerity of the unity government.

The MDC says talks to extract concessions from President Robert Mugabe have achieved little. They want a regional and continental solution.

“We're now going to formally advise Sadc and the AU that we are hitting a snag and we would want immediate intervention so that these issues are resolved,” says MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa.

Political analyst Joseph Kurebwa says Tsvangirai is under pressure from his party.

Zanu PF and the smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara have not yet declared a deadlock.