Deadlock hampers governance in  Zimbabwe, PM beckons on South Africa to intervene

HARARE, Zimbabwe — The Zimbabwe prime minister’s party says South Africa should intervene in a deadlock that has hampered governance in this south African country.

Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party, said Friday that President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party was blocking progress in talks. ZANU-PF spokesman Ephraim Masawi told The Associated Press Tsvangirai’s party was the problem.

Thursday’s finger-pointing is typical of relations between the two parties in the year since South Africa and other neighbors forced Zimbabwe to form a coalition.

Chamisa says South Africa should step in to make decisions on outstanding issues — including accusations Mugabe supporters are harassing opponents and that Tsvangirai has done little to get sanctions lifted. ref: AP