By Nelson Banya
Harare - South Africa said on Thursday it will withhold aid for Zimbabwe until a representative government is in place, in what appeared to be the first punitive measure by a regional country to enforce a power-sharing agreement.
Toughening its stand, the South African government said it was "extremely concerned" about Zimbabwe's political impasse, which has deepened a humanitarian crisis. It called for mature leadership to resolve outstanding issues.
The statement came as President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) prepared to hold another round of talks in South Africa next week to seek a breakthrough.
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The money being withheld - R300-million meant for agricultural assistance - is a small fraction of foreign aid to Zimbabwe, but carries symbolic weight as a sign of irritation in its powerful neighbour.
"This money will be only disbursed once a representative government was in place and in time for the next planting season in April 2009," a statement from the South African cabinet said.
Doubts have grown about Zimbabwe's September 15 power-sharing agreement and Mugabe is trying to push through a constitutional amendment allowing him to name a cabinet alone, which could lead to the unravelling of the deal with the opposition.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has refused to enter the government, accusing Mugabe of trying to grab the powerful ministries. The main obstacle in talks is the issue of who runs the home affairs ministry, which oversees the police.
Mark Schroeder, director of risk analysis for sub-Saharan Africa at Stratfor, doubted South Africa's move would sway Mugabe and his supporters and interpreted the aid move as largely symbolic.
"It is not sufficient for them to yield power to Tsvangirai," he said. "It is a small step and could be an initial negotiating stance.
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