SADC mediator President Thabo Mbeki may soon return to Zimbabwe after-the three principals—Arthur Mutambara, Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe reached an impasse over the appointment of cabinet ministers only four days after the signing of the power deal on Monday.

The three leaders buried their political differences and endorsed a power sharing deal as a prelude to the resuscitation of the country’s economy which was dormant for ten years.

After snubbing the first meeting which was penciled for Tuesday, president Mugabe met his two counterparts—Prime minister designate Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara to discuss the composition of the cabinet.

However, the three principals failed to reach a desired conclusion which was widely expected by the general populace which erupted after the official signing hopping that things would become better.

Sources say President Mugabe is reluctant to cede key ministries to Morgan Tsvangirai despite the challenges he has endured over the past years in running the affairs of the country.

On Tuesday the Zanu PF politburo—which is the decision making body resolved that the ministry of Home Affairs and Finance which are among the key ministries were non negotiable.

Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said the discussion had ended in a deadlock and it had been referred to the negotiating team pending finalization.

"The meeting was inconclusive, it was a deadlock and has been referred to the negotiating teams for further work to try and find common ground," he said adding that this was now problematic to the deal regarded as a panacea to the troubled country.

Under the deal, Tsvangirai’s party is expected to get 13 cabinet posts, with Arthur Mutambara's camp getting three ministries. President Mugabe’s Zanu PF, is going to have 15 ministers in the cabinet.

Political analysts said Mugabe faces a Herculean task in trimming down his cabinet from 31 ministers to 15 ministers, a move that further threatens Mugabe’s party in power since 1980.

On Thursday, South Africa’s Confederation of South African Trade Union (COSATU) condemned the Zimbabwean deal as it “marks a dangerous spread of the Kenyan virus that sends a message to dictators that they can defy the will of the people” said COSATU in a statement on Wednesday.

President has ruled the country for the past 28 years but over the last ten years things have deteriorated with inflation reaching a world record of more 20 million percent while chronic shortages of fuel, basic foodstuffs and foreign currency threatens the human existence of Zimbabweans