A fourth ‘hidden’ political party has joined Zimbabwe’s power sharing talks further scuttling the process of forming an all-inclusive Government meant to bring the much-awaited stability to the country.

Members of ZAPU, a liberation struggle movement that was swallowed by ZANU PF during the formation of Unity Accord in 1987, have now come up in open saying they wanted the Government to honor promises that were made during the accord.

When the accord, was signed after five years of civil strive, it was agreed that although the two parties ZANU PF and ZAPU will form one part, the members of the ZAPU are supposed to get the post of the Vice President and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Since the accord this status quo has remained but now faces a test, as the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai is demanding the same portfolio during the current negotiations.
It is the issue of the Home Affairs ministry that has led to an impasse between ZANU PF and MDC that is threatening to tear the agreement apart

ZANU PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa said ZANU PF could not let go the ministry since according to the Unity Accord, the portfolio was allocated to ZAPU.

“That is not negotiable. We cannot throw away the Unity Accord because of the MDC. The Home Affairs ministry belongs to ZAPU,” said Chinamasa.

However Chinamasa remarks have raised condemnation from political analysts and the e MDC.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said ZANU PF cannot bring in-house issues into the new negotiations.

“That is an in-house issue and they have to see how they will solve it. What we know is that we are negotiations with ZANU PF and the other MDC led by Mutambara and not ZAPU,” he said.

Political analysts have also said this was a sign of double standards by ZANU PF.

They noted that on the other hand ZANU PF goes around and say the two parties were united so they was no more ZAPU, but want to bring back the part only when it suits them.

“If it suits them, there is no ZAPU, but if it does then ZAPU is there. This is a sign of double standards and we cannot expect in houses issues to be brought when there is a new dispensation. Are they trying to say that the MDC must also bring some old alliances in the talks as well? It will cause more confusion,” said a political commentator with the University of Science and Technology.

Although political leaders in the country signed a power sharing deal in mid September, they have failed to form a new Government over the issue of allocation of ministers.

The MDC is accusing ZANU PF of trying to grab all the key ministries.

Chief negotiator and former South African President Thabo Mbeki spend four days in Zimbabwe trying to broker a deal but failed.

He referred the matter to SADC who failed to meet after the Government failed to issue Tsvangirai with a passport. The meeting will now be held on Monday.

(Source)