Zimbabwe's rivals agree to seek Mbeki mediation

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's political rivals agreed on Friday to seek renewed mediation from former South African President Thabo Mbeki to try to end deadlock over posts in a unity government, the sides said.

President Robert Mugabe, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, who heads a breakaway opposition faction, failed again to agree on who gets key ministries under a power-sharing deal vital to ending devastating economic turmoil.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF had previously said there was no immediate need for further mediation by Mbeki, who brokered the deal last month just days before he was forced to give up South Africa's presidency by his ruling African National Congress.

"The three leaders agreed to call in the facilitator to assist in resolving the outstanding issues. An appeal will be made to the facilitator for him to travel to Zimbabwe," said Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Mugabe's chief negotiator.

Mbeki has agreed to continue his mediation in Zimbabwe on behalf of southern Africa's regional bloc despite being ousted.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which accuses ZANU-PF of trying to sideline it in the power-sharing government, had called for more help from Mbeki, the Southern African Development Community and African Union.

Opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Mugabe and Tsvangirai met for about an hour on Friday.

"It's still a tale of a deadlock. There is now consensus that there is indeed a deadlock, so the intervention of the mediator becomes both imperative and inevitable," Chamisa said.