Zimbabwean government talks break down

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 29 (UPI) -- Zimbabweans are disappointed but hopeful after talks were stymied between the government and the main opposition faction, an observer said.

Stakeholder in talks between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government and Movement for Democratic Change are being urged to help the sides work toward resolving Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis, Voice of America reported Tuesday.

Negotiations reached a stalemate after MDC reportedly claimed they were bogged down over what position party leader Morgan Tsvangirai would get in a unified government.

"There is a sense of despair," Sydney Masamvu, with the International Crisis Group, told VOA. "But with this immediate hiccup, everyone in Zimbabwe across the political divide is hoping for a negotiated political settlement to allow people to rediscover themselves, to heal, and to get the country moving on the economic recovery"

Masamvu said Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union -- Patriotic Front party apparently offered Tsvangirai a third vice presidency, "which by essence would mean Mugabe would be maintaining the same power." The MDC has proposed a structure in which Tsvangirai would be executive prime minister.

Mugabe won re-election in June after a months-long campaign of deadly violence against MDC followers, which culminated in Tsvangirai withdrawing from the election. The election was denounced as a sham worldwide.