Robert Mugabe plans to announce a government in Zimbabwe this week with or without the inclusion of the opposition, according to a senior government official.
The news comes as Southern African leaders meet in Pretoria in a bid to salvage deadlocked talks between Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Talks broke down again after a face-to-face meeting between the two men last week.
The latest summit is the fourth by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss Zimbabwe since a power-sharing deal, signed by the two leaders last September, stalled over the allocation of important ministries.
Mr Mugabe says any differences can be worked out after a new government is created while Mr Tsvangirai says disagreements must be resolved beforehand.
"The way forward soon after this summit, whether there is an agreement or there is no agreement, President Mugabe is going to form a cabinet," deputy information minister Bright Matonga told South African public broadcaster SAFM radio.
Analysts hold out little hope of success from the SADC summit as many of the regional leaders are divided over how to deal with Zimbabwe and have failed in the past to break the deadlock.
While there has been increased criticism from some African leaders over President Mugabe's rule, there is also growing concern over Mr Tsvangirai's ability to lead and divisions within the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) itself.
Regional leaders see Zimbabwe's unity deal, which allows Mr Mugabe to remain president while Mr Tsvangirai becomes prime minister, as the best chance to rescue the country from political and economic meltdown.
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