President Jacob Zuma's Zimbabwe mediation team is to resume meetings today with the country's leadership, to try and break the impasse over several disputes threatening the transitional government. Presidential advisers Charles Nqakula and Lindiwe Zulu, along with special envoy Mac Maharaj have received a status update of the ongoing negotiations between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF, and the two  Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions.

However, the latest round of talk’s looks set to be an uphill struggle after Zanu-PF declared that it will make no further concessions to the MDC, until Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai secures the lifting of all Western sanctions.

A series of meetings since late last year has produced agreements on appointments to key bodies - such as the media, human rights, and recently the electoral commission.

But, on the future of the current Reserve Bank Governor, Attorney General, provincial governorships and Western sanctions - the parties remain worlds apart.

Analysts believe Zuma's team is likely to pile on the pressure for a resolution. The country's unity government marks its first anniversary this week, a year marked by wrangling over positions and wrestling for the levers of power.