Zimbabwe?s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is denying media speculation that it has reached a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe?s ruling party. The opposition party says the latest talks on power sharing with the ruling ZANU-PF that resumed last Friday in South Africa did not reach an agreement. The MDC blames the ruling ZANU-PF party for speculating on reaching a power sharing deal.

The peace talks are, however expected to continue despite a deadlock on the power sharing deal. Nelson Chamisa is the spokesman for Zimbabwe?s main opposition MDC. From the capital, Harare he tells reporter Peter Clottey that although the party is committed to the talks, its stance on the power sharing deal remains the same. ?The reason why they (the MDC negotiating team) went to South Africa was to have bilateral consultations with the South African team as instructed by President Mbeki. At no time did we have a face-to-face meeting with the negotiators of ZANU-PF. It was basically to try and articulate our position and to check if there has been any change of circumstances or facts on the ground vis-à-vis the whole dialogue process. But as it is there hasn?t been any change,? Chamisa noted. The main bone of contention has been the issue of power sharing.?We are deadlocked on key issues. We have said it is unheard of to have a Prime Minister without powers to execute the business of government and that was the case, they (ZANU-PF- didn?t want Tsvangirai as Prime Minister to have powers, to chair cabinet to have power to discipline people who do not perform in cabinet. And we have had a situation where Mugabe has had bable authoritarian powers compared to Tsvangirai?s flat file of responsibilities. So, that remains the bone of contention,? he said.

Chamisa denied the MDC is power hungry and entrenched in its position during the stalled power sharing talks.