ZIMBABWE’S deadlocked attempts to secure a power sharing deal appeared to be faltering today as President Robert Mugabe grabbed key ministries for his own party, including control of the army, the police and the economy.

Directly defying the spirit of the agreement signed on 15 September, Mugabe assigned the defence, foreign affairs, finance, justice and media departments, among others, to his Zanu-PF party’s control .

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) denounced Mugabe’s actions as “power-grabbing". Opposition party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Zimbabwe's national unity government was now "in jeopardy .”

By seizing control over both the police and armed forces Mugabe appears set to entrench himself in power, despite losing elections in March.

Zanu-PF was also given control of the judiciary, the media and the country’s already ruined economy.

The MDC was given control of the culture, science, child welfare, labour and sports ministries, leaving it with little power. Faced with such a one-sided deal it will almost certainly walk away from further talks.

Under the original power-sharing deal Mugabe would remain president and Tsvangirai would be prime minister, heading a council of ministers supervising the cabinet.

Zanu-PF would be in control of 15 ministries, the MDC in charge of 13 and three posts would go to a splinter MDC faction, giving the combined opposition a majority.

South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki who negotiated the original deal is due in Harare on Monday, but his recent ousting from South Africa's leadership has significantly weakened his diplomatic influence.

The government controlled Herald newspaper said no cabinet appointments would be made before Mbeki returns to Zimbabwe.

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