In a sign of growing frustration at talks between political leaders that have dragged on for weeks but with little progress, the MDC said the delays to resolve the outstanding issues and several other problems that have arisen after the formation of the unity government had left the country with a “handicapped government” that was not fully functional.

“Failure to resolve the outstanding issues means that the global political agreement (power sharing agreement) and the inclusive government have not been fully consummated. It means we have a handicapped government,” said the party, in a statement a day after another inconclusive meeting between President Robert Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Thursday.

“Brazen acts of unilateralism, politically motivated chaos on the farms and the failure to take decisive action on the outstanding issues pose a real threat to the life and health of the inclusive government,” it said, referring to several decisions the MDC says Mugabe has taken unilaterally and continuing farm invasions that threatening to overshadow the unity government.

Among the outstanding issues that the MDC said should have been resolved soon after the formation of the government on 13 February are the appointment of provincial governors, permanent secretaries and diplomats, the rehiring of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and the appointment of Johannes Tomana as Attorney General by Mugabe in January.

Tsvangirai and Mutambara want the appointments of Gono, Tomana and provincial governors rescinded and the recruitment of new ambassadors and permanent secretaries – moves Mugabe and hardliners from his ZANU PF party have adamantly opposed.

Mugabe has also raised the ire of his coalition partners with a unilateral decision to transfer a major portfolio from MDC-T minister Nelson Chamisa to one of his ZANU PF hardliners, Nicholas Goche.

Another bone of contention between Mugabe on the one hand and Tsvangirai and Mutambara on the other is the refusal by the 85-year-old President to swear in MDC-T Senator Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister.

The three principal political leaders and their aides are expected to meet again next Monday to try to resolve the outstanding issues.

The coalition government is seen as offering Zimbabwe the best opportunity in a decade to restore stability and end a devastating economic crisis.

But international political think-tank, the International Crisis Group, said in report released earlier this week that the unity government was at risk of being toppled while Tsvangirai himself could be assassinated by military generals unhappy that the unfolding political transition could leave them powerless and vulnerable to prosecution for past crimes. – ZimOnline