Reports from Zimbabwe on Sunday suggested that the MDC, led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, wants to declare a deadlock in its negotiations with ZANU-PF.

It is understood that the MDC wants to refer the agenda to the SADC and President Jacob Zuma.

The MDC appears to be standing firm on key issues it wants resolved, like the appointments of the Central Bank governor and the Attorney General, despite a plea from Jacob Zuma last week for the MDC president to be flexible.

According to reports on Sunday, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said that the party is losing patience.

He said there is a political logjam, and SADC and Zuma must intervene.

Party insiders said that when ZANU-PF and MDC negotiators met briefly on Wednesday ZANU-PF had hardened its attitude.

President Robert Mugabe’s party wants targeted travel sanctions and asset freezes lifted against them.

Insiders are saying that the state of relations between the two parties is as shaky as it was in February 2009, with absolutely no sign of progress.