South African facilitators were due back in Zimbabwe on Thursday to resume mediation between ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change, hoping to achieve a meeting of the minds on the various issues troubling the power-sharing government.
Facilitation team member Lindiwe Zulu, a foreign policy adviser to President Jacob Zuma, said her team will meet with the three unity government principals to relaunch the mediation process.
She disclosed to VOA that the facilitators made a low-profile visit to Harare two weeks ago for a round of talks with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, but failed to secure concessions from President Mugabe on key points.
Mr. Zuma himself met with the three leaders in March and said they had agreed on a “package of measures” moving toward the resolution contentious issues, such as the fate of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana, both political allies of Mr. Mugabe.
Commenting, London-based political analyst Brilliant Mhlanga told reporter Ntungamili Nkomo he doesn’t expect much from this latest mediation effort.
On the other hand, he added, "the parties in the unity government seem to be working well together despite so-called outstanding issues," he said.