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Zimbabwe Leaders Reach Deal

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The Associated Press

Published: September 12, 2008

HARARE, Zimbabwe - President Robert Mugabe agreed to share power with the opposition Thursday after more than two decades as Zimbabwe's unchallenged leader, South Africa's president announced.
South African leader Thabo Mbeki, who mediated at the negotiation, did not immediately offer details, but said the agreement would be signed and made public Monday.

"I am absolutely certain that the leadership of Zimbabwe is committed to implementing these agreements," Mbeki said at a news conference late Thursday.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai also told reporters the parties "have got a deal." There was no immediate statement from 84-year-old Mugabe.

There was no indication of how they would share power.

Tsvangirai had argued that as top vote-getter in March's presidential election he should be head of government and preside at Cabinet meetings, relegating Mugabe to a ceremonial position. Mugabe displayed little willingness to relinquish much power.

Mbeki had been in Zimbabwe since Monday trying to resolve that impasse. For a year, he sought to bring Mugabe and Tsvangirai closer together, insisting that despite accusations he was biased in favor of Mugabe his policy of refusing to confront or publicly criticize either party was the best approach.

"The agreement has once more underlined our often stated view that only the people of Zimbabwe, acting with the support of the international community, can author their own destiny," Mbeki's government said in a statement following his announcement.

Others, including African leaders traditionally reluctant to criticize one of their own, had been increasingly impatient with Mugabe, who has been accused of trampling on Zimbabwean's political rights and ruining the economy of what had once been the region's breadbasket. Neighboring countries coping with Zimbabwean refugees were among the sharpest critics.

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