VOA标准英语10月-Zimbabwe Again Tries to Break Political Deadlock

Scores of demonstrators in support of Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal were arrested in Harare after scuffles broke out between members of the country's two main political parties. Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare the demonstration¹ occurred before talks resumed in an effort to implement² the power sharing agreement signed six weeks ago.

The Chair of the Women's Coalition³ of Zimbabwe, Emilia Motawu, said scores of women were beaten and arrested before the power sharing talks resumed at a Harare hotel.
　

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (2nd R) arrives at a Harare hotel for talks with opposition4 leader Morgan Tsvangerai to break an impasse5 on forming a unity6 government, 27 Oct., 2008

She said the women had planned to stage a peaceful demonstration calling for Zimbabwe's political leaders to put their country's interest first during the talks. She said many women wanted an end to the political impasse as their families were hungry.

The talks, facilitated by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, resulted in a power-sharing agreement, but the implementation⁷ of the plan broke down over allocation of cabinet positions.

In earlier negotiations⁸, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was given the two main security posts and prime-minister designate Morgan Tsvangirai demanded the home affairs ministry⁹, which controls the police, immigration and the controversial voters' roll.

Also attending the talks are Zimbabwe minority party leader Arthur Mutambara, South African President Kgalema Mothlanthe, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique and senior politicians from Angola and Swaziland.

Mr. Tsvangirai has said he will not compromise on his demand for an equitable¹⁰ share of the ministries¹¹.
　

Morgan Tsvangirai is met by SADC executive secretary Tomaz Solomao (R) as he arrives at a Harare hotel for talks with President Mugabe, 27 Oct., 2008

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who is one of the Zanu-PF party's two negotiators, criticized Mr. Tsvangirai in the state media, accusing him of campaigning for sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Most political analysts¹² expect Mr. Mugabe to try to form a government with only his Zanu-PF party.

Mr. Tsvangirai has said that if the talks fail the deadlock¹³ should be referred to SADC summit and the African Union.

Zimbabwe is facing a severe food crisis and its currency has crashed with unprecedented¹⁴ speed in the past five days. Several retail¹⁵ outlets¹⁶ now say they cannot sell goods for Zimbabwe dollars because the currency is too unstable¹⁷.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

6 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

7 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

8 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

11 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

14 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

15 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

16 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。