Maravi

(BBC) MDC says Zimbabwe dialogue failed

MDC says Zimbabwe dialogue failed
Mr Ncube said neighbouring states did not do enough

Zimbabwean opposition representatives have publicly confirmed for the first time that dialogue with the government over the past year has failed. Movement for Democratic Change leaders said they felt betrayed by the Southern African Development Community which had been trying to facilitate the process.

Representatives from both factions of the divided movement spoke at a press conference in Johannesburg. They said next month's presidential poll will not have a legitimate result.

Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, representing the MDC's two factions, said dialogue with the Zimbabwean government foundered last December when it became clear the ruling Zanu-PF party was reneging on an agreement to enact a new constitution before elections were held.

They said Zanu-PF had not been prepared to negotiate on the date of the elections, which are now set for 29 March.

'Heavy heart'

The MDC will nevertheless still participate in the elections, with one faction supporting MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai, and the other supporting Simba Makoni, a former finance minister in President Robert Mugabe's government, who is standing as an independent candidate.

The officials say, however, that they will do so "under protest" and "with a heavy heart", as they do not believe there can be a legitimate outcome.

Mr Biti said it had been hoped the dialogue with the government would offer a new beginning for Zimbabwe, and he was disappointed that eight months of hard work had failed.

Mr Ncube said that SADC, represented by South African President Thabo Mbeki, should have been tougher and had failed to use leverage on the Zimbabwean government. On the party's internal divisions, Mr Ncube told the BBC he was "very disappointed" that the two factions had been unable to resolve their differences.

"We worked around the clock to reach an agreement to reunite the MDC," he said.

Mr Biti added: "We hope that after the elections we will be able to sit down again as a united opposition." Mr Biti represents Mr Tsvangirai's faction, while Mr Ncube is from the faction led by Arthur Mutambara, which is backing Mr Makoni in the presidential election.

Labels: MDC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 7:08 PM