HARARE: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Premier Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday agreed on a slate of key appointments of officials to oversee reforms in media, elections and human rights, a spokesman said.

 Mugabe and Tsvangirai will meet again on Wednesday in a bid to resolve their year-long feud over the appointment of the central bank governor and attorney general, the prime minister's spokesman said.

 "The principals (Mugabe and Tsvangirai) met this afternoon and agreed on the names of the people who would serve as media commissioners, human rights commissioners and electoral commissioners," James Maridadi told AFP.

 "The principals will meet again on Wednesday to put finality to all the other outstanding issues."

 Since forming a unity government in February, the two leaders have battled over the naming of provincial governors, the swearing in of deputy agriculture minister Roy Bennett, and the removal of a Western travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe and his inner circle.

 Early this month, South African mediators said progress had been made in talks between Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

 Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Tsvangirai's party said if all the outstanding issues are not resolved by January 15, the MDC would ask neighbouring countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to break the logjam.

 "In the event of a deadlock after this date, the matter will be referred back to SADC for arbitration and adjudication," the party said.

 Last month, regional leaders held a special summit in Mozambique and tasked South African President Jacob Zuma with helping the parties resolve their differences.

SADC gave the parties a 30-day deadline to resolve the issues, but this has been missed. Negotiations under South Africa mediation have however continued despite the passing of the deadline.

The list of commissioners as announced by Sibanda are:

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission: Joyce Kazembe, Dr Petty Makoni, Sibongile Ndlovu, Bessie Nhandara, Daniel Chigaru, Theophilus Gambe, Geoff Feltoe, Mukhuli Nyathi,

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission: Dr Ellen Sithole, Dr Kwanele Jirira, Neseni Nomathemba, Elasto Mugwadi, Dr Joseph Kurebgwa, Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, Jacob Mudenda, Prof Carol Khombe

Zimbabwe Media Commission: Godfrey Majonga (chairperson), Nqobile Nyathi (deputy), Miriam Madziwa, Lawton Hikwa, Henry Muradzikwa, Chris Mutsvangwa, Mathew Takaona, Chris Mhike and Dr Millicent Mombeshora.

By AFP