Harare - A call by southern African leaders to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe is a victory for President Robert Mugabe and will likely strengthen his hand in the fragile unity government, analysts said on Wednesday.
The call by the Southern African Development Community was made despite the deadlock between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on key political appointments and concerns over human rights abuses.
"Obviously they are going to present it as a diplomatic triumph," said political analyst Takura Zhangazha, adding that Mugabe and his allies had been "desperate" not to have Zimbabwe discussed at the summit in Kinsahsa which ended on Tuesday.
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Mugabe has blamed sanctions imposed by the European Union and other western countries for his country's economic meltdown, using the issue to deflect attention from the slow pace of reform. The sanctions, targeting Mugabe and his inner circle, involve an extensive travel ban and a freeze on bank accounts.
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party joined a unity government in February with Movement for Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai, a long time political rival.
The parties remain deadlocked over the appointment of the central bank chief and the attorney general who continues to prosecute MDC supporters despite guarantees of political freedoms in the unity accord.
"However, more worryingly, the MDC and their allies are now going to be faced with tough and difficult negotiations ahead given that SADC has focused more on the issue of sanctions," said Zhangazha.
"Any future negotiations between ZANU-PF and the MDC will be difficult for the prime minister's party and his men."
Mugabe's biographer Heidi Holland said it was unlikely the international community would heed the call. "It is a moral problem for the West as they don't want to support a government lead by Mugabe's regime."
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Mugabe's lead negotiator in the unity talks said his party had met its obligations under the unity accord and dismissed MDC concerns.
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