Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition will resume power-sharing talks at a weekend regional summit in South Africa, a leading official was quoted as saying today.
The negotiations began last month after Mr Mugabe's unopposed re-election in June that was condemned around the world and boycotted by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai because of attacks on his supporters.
Three days of marathon meetings in Harare this week failed to reach an overall deal.
"We are travelling to South Africa with president (Robert) Mugabe today as the negotiations continue," the state-owned Herald newspaper quoted the ruling ZANU-PF's chief negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa, as saying.
"The talks never collapsed and all parties are committed to the dialogue. I would also want to confirm ZANU-PF's commitment to see the talks end successfully sooner rather than later."
Nic Borain, political consultant to HSBC Securities, said behind-the-scenes manoeuvring by supporters of both sides may be the biggest obstacle to an agreement, hindering efforts to end an economic catastrophe.
"You have Tsvangirai's backers who are playing hardball and insisting on the virtual disappearance of Robert Mugabe, and you've got Robert Mugabe's backers insisting he remains, maintains some kind of executive powers," he said.
Mr Chinamasa said there was pressure for the country to convene parliament and form a government.
"We cannot continue wandering around without direction, hence the need to swear in parliamentarians and open the House so that the elected members can continue to fulfil their constitutional mandate," he said.
Tensions mounted yesterday, when Zimbabwean authorities briefly confiscated Mr Tsvangirai's passport, threatening to prevent him attending the summit, an MDC official said. The MDC leader arrived in South Africa this morning.
Today, the MDC condemned what it called "corrosive" attempts by ministers and intelligence agents to recruit some of its members to join Mr Mugabe's government.
"These are the actions of a desperate and cornered regime," it said in a statement.
Mr Tsvangirai's absence from a new government would do nothing to dispel investors' concerns about a country facing economic ruin, with the world's highest inflation of 2.2 million per cent, chronic food and fuel shortages, and high unemployment.
Daily hardships have sent millions of Zimbabweans fleeing to neighbouring states, straining their economies.
Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama will boycott the summit if ZANU-PF and opposition fail to reach a power-sharing agreement, Botswanan officials said yesterday.
Mr Tsvangirai said yesterday he was sure talks with Mr Mugabe's government would resume.
Chances for a breakthrough in the negotiations may depend on whether the Southern African Development Community grouping of nations can present a united front when trying to persuade all of Zimbabwe's parties to bury their differences.
While Botswana has taken a tough line on Zimbabwe, calling on regional leaders not to recognise the re-election of Mr Mugabe, South African president Thabo Mbeki, the chief mediator in the talks, has come under repeated fire for being too soft on Mr Mugabe.
Mr Mbeki, who would score a political coup if an agreement is reached on the sidelines of the summit, argues that piling pressure on the Zimbabwean president, who has been in power since 1980, would only raise tensions.
Reuters