( CNN ) -- Power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe have stalled , with the government and main opposition parties unable to agree on the distribution of ministries . A women holds a sign inside a Harare hotel where power-sharing talks took place Thursday . Just one day earlier , there were reports that President Robert Mugabe 's ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ) were close to reaching an agreement . But that fell apart Thursday . `` We 've reached a deadlock on the issue of allocating ministries , therefore we 've referred the issue to the facilitator hoping that he finds creative ways of unlocking that deadlock , '' said MDC spokesman , Nelson Chamisa . `` We are hoping that tomorrow the process will continue to try and find a resolution to the outstanding issues . '' Mugabe acknowledged that the negotiations have stalled . `` We are hopeful for a breakthrough , '' he said . `` The MDC has their position , and we have ours . `` What we need is a compromise on both sides . '' It was reported Wednesday that the ZANU-PF party would oversee the Justice and Legal Affairs Ministry , while the MDC would control the Finance Ministry . Mugabe sounded confident at the conclusion of Wednesday 's negotiations , saying : `` We finish tomorrow . '' But MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was cautious . `` The proceedings have been going on quite circuitously , but we have not concluded , '' he said . Both parties said they would consider the deal overnight . However , MDC spokesman Chamisa said Thursday that the two sides were deadlocked . `` There has been some movement , but not enough to seal the deal , '' he said . It also appeared that more ministries remained on the table than had been indicated Wednesday . `` What we seek is to achieve an equal distribution of the key ministries and responsibilities for the sake of giving the deal a chance , '' Chamisa said . `` It is not on just Finance . They range up to 10 : Justice , Information , Defense . '' The allocation of government ministries had emerged as the latest hurdle in efforts to sort out the power-sharing deal signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai on September 15 . The deal allowed Mugabe to retain his office while making Tsvangirai the prime minister . Arthur Mutambara , head of an MDC splinter group , became deputy prime minister . The two sides were sorting out the distribution of Cabinet posts last Saturday , when the state-run newspaper published what it said was the official list . That list gave key government ministries to the ZANU-PF , including Defense , Home Affairs , Foreign Affairs and Justice and Legal Affairs . The MDC said it had not agreed to the selections , but a ZANU-PF spokesman said all parties had given their approval . Former South African President Thabo Mbeki , who mediated talks to reach the power-sharing deal , arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday to participate in the negotiations . Media reports Wednesday had suggested the talks were stalled because Mugabe wants to shield his generals -- accused of election violence earlier this year -- from prosecution . Giving ZANU-PF control of the Justice Ministry would ensure no generals are tried , and the MDC has assured Mugabe they will not go after those allegedly responsible for the violence , according to another CNN source . Of the other ministries , ZANU-PF was fighting hardest to retain finance , sources told CNN . They said the party fears that if the MDC controls that ministry , it could audit how money has been spent by Mugabe 's government . It is widely believed that the government misappropriated funds and used the public purse for itself , enriching party loyalists with government contracts and neglecting to develop the economy , which has all but collapsed . ZANU-PF would let go of finance only if the MDC promised not to investigate how government money was used in the past , the sources said . The contention around the home affairs portfolio is more complex . Mugabe had suggested that ZANU-PF and MDC share that ministry , with each party having control for six months . For years , the home affairs portfolio has been under the control of a key Mugabe ally , a ZANU-PF faction called ZAPU that has helped Mugabe retain influence in Matabeleland , an area where the president is hated . Mugabe fears giving home affairs to the MDC will alienate ZAPU members , causing them to join the opposition and further weakening the ruling party . Home Affairs also controls the voter rolls , which Mugabe 's government has been accused of manipulating . The recent disputes threatened the power-sharing agreement , which was to end months of turmoil and violence after the country 's presidential election in March . Tsvangirai garnered the most votes but did not win enough to avoid a runoff with Mugabe , who has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1980 . The MDC leader withdrew days before the June 27 runoff , alleging that Mugabe 's supporters had waged a campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition supporters . CNN 's Nkepile Mabuse contributed to this report .
Parties tussle over finance , home affairs portfolios . Reports suggest talks also stall because Mugabe wants generals protected . Mugabe , Tsvangirai signed power-sharing deal on September 15 . The deal was to end months of turmoil and violence after the presidential poll .