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Robert Mugabe, Arthur Mutambara and Morgan Tsvangirai

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OPINION - While addressing the 80th Ordinary session of the Central Committee at Zanu-PF headquarters President Mugabe put a damper on ongoing talks between Zanu-PF and MDC negotiators.

He is quoted as saying "The sanctions must go. If they don't there is nothing, no concession we will make. All talk about outstanding issues is nonsensical". The audience being addressed loudly cheered!

Between March 16-18 President Zuma of South Africa was in Harare. His mission was to bring the feuding parties to the negotiating table,unlock the gridlock as well as resolve the "outstanding issues" and breathe life into the inclusive government so it refocuses on the constitution-making process and ultimately elections. After Zuma,s departure for South Africa details started to emerge of Zuma,s tough negotiations with both the MDC factions and Zanu-PF.

It was reported that landmark strides had been made with reported agreement on reassigning the Attorney -General to the High Court bench,offer of RSA ambassadorial position to current Reserve Bank Governor,Gideon Gono,dropping of treason charges against Roy Bennett as well as reassigning him to another ministerial portfolio away from the contentious Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

There was also reported agreement on the sharing of 10 provincial governorships among the parties and that they would all work together in lobbying for the lifting of targeted sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his cronies in Zanu-PF.

The inter-party negotiators were given a time-frame to report back to Zuma by 31 March.Inturn Zuma would report back to SADC troika chairman,Mozimbican President Guebuza. It was expected that the SADC political organ would ratify the deal on Zimbabwe.

Currently the inter-party mediators are locked in talks on the outstanding issues. This Mugabe knew as he addressed the Zanu-PF central committee. He did not only put a damper on the ongoing talks but delivered the final nail in the coffin.

The Zanu-PF mediators obviously toe the party line and take instructions from Zanu-PF. It had been reported prior to Zuma's visit to Zimbabwe that ZANU-PF had adopted the position that there would be no concessions unless the "sanctions" were removed.Mugabe,s utterances at the Central committee reiterate party position.

The truth is that Zanu-PF will not budge an inch. Their strategy after the hotly disputed elections as well as re-run in 2008 was to obtain "legitimacy" and acceptance in the political world. This they now have achieved. The next move is to get the sanctions lifted. If for any foolish reasons the USA, Britain or EU agrees to this move life will return to normal for Zanu-PF.This has long been the desired position.

The MDC is apparently the junior partner while Zanu-PF masquarades as the "victors"in the 2008 elections.

The ongoing inter-party talks as well as the planned report-back to Zuma and Sadc are a total waste of time.

It is an exercise in futility.

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