Mugabe Party Drafts Power Sharing Bill Unilaterally

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF has began drafting the proposed law that will allow the formation of an elusive power sharing coalition with the opposition, a move that is likely to worsen the already stalled negotiations between the two sides. Making the controversial announcement, Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said both ZANU PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would only scrutinize the Bill after the government's legal team finishes drafting it. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa has said his side would reject the unilateral draft, further accusing ZANU-PF of shunning formal communication with MDC and instead using the media to communicate its moves. Zimbabwe’s deadlocked power sharing negotiations hit rock bottom when the opposition rejected a regional proposal to share the disputed ministry of Home Affairs with ZANU-PF, claiming Mugabe has been using the powerful ministry to stifle opposition.[PE]