Mugabe accused of tearing up peace deal in Zimbabwe

South Africa's former president, Thabo Mbeki, is on his way to Zimbabwe for what may be a final attempt to rescue the peace deal he brokered last month, after President Robert Mugabe sought to appoint members of his Zanu-PF party to every key post in the cabinet.

The government-owned Herald newspaper announced yesterday that Mr Mugabe had unilaterally allocated his party all the portfolios governing security and the economy, leaving the opposition with less important ministries. Under the deal signed on 15 September, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was due to become prime minister, and his Movement for Democratic Change said it would demand the ministries of home affairs, finance and foreign affairs. The Herald said that Mr Mugabe planned to award all three portfolios to Zanu-PF, as well as the defence and justice posts.

Nelson Chamisa, the MDC's main spokesman, called the announcement a "midnight ambush style of attack" that had put the proposed national unity government in jeopardy. "This is Zanu-PF's arrogant wish list," he said. "It is unilateral, contemptuous and outrageous. It shows that Mugabe thinks this thing is not about power-sharing, but is about power-grabbing. We see things differently."

Last month's accord was greeted with relief at home and abroad, but there has since been deadlock: not only has Mr Mugabe done nothing to implement the agreement, but Mr Mbeki was ousted from the South African presidency, weakening his prestige. A spokesman said he would arrive tomorrow at the request of Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who failed yet again on Friday evening to resolve the division of cabinet positions.

Under the power-sharing deal, Mr Mugabe would remain as President and head of the cabinet, in which Zanu-PF would have 15 seats. The combined opposition would have 16 seats, reflecting their defeat of the government in April parliamentary elections. Mr Tsvangirai, who led Mr Mugabe in the first round of the presidential election held at the same time but withdrew from the June run-off in protest at the rising tide of violence against the opposition, would chair a separate committee of ministers tasked with implementing policy.

The deal always looked unwieldy, and fears that Mr Mugabe was simply seeking to outlast his opponents appear increasingly justified. The official media, while softening their abuse of Mr Tsvangirai, have continued to denounce "interference" by Britain, the US and the rest of Zimbabwe's supposed Western enemies, but these countries may be too distracted by the international financial crisis to maintain pressure on the Zimbabwean authorities.

The MDC insisted in the negotiations that it wanted responsibility for the security forces to be split, with the opposition gaining the home affairs ministry, which controls the police. It also wanted the foreign affairs portfolio, to restore Zimbabwe's reputation abroad, and said the country would not receive the international economic assistance it needs unless it controlled the finance ministry.

Zimbabwe's economic slide has continued since the pact was signed, with official inflation at a new record 231 million per cent. Yesterday the central bank introduced a new Z$50,000 note, barely two weeks after launching Z$10,000 and Z$20,000 notes, and increased the amount Zimbabweans can draw each day from their bank accounts. Previously the limit was Z$20,000, forcing people to go to the bank almost every day and wait in long queues. The new ceiling is Z$50,000, enough to buy three loaves of bread.