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Tsvangirai urges negotiated deal Tsvangirai urges negotiated deal
(about 3 hours later)
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for a "negotiated political settlement" which would allow the country to begin "healing".Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for a "negotiated political settlement" which would allow the country to begin "healing".
He also called for the immediate release of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) deputy Tendai Biti, held on treason charges.He also called for the immediate release of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) deputy Tendai Biti, held on treason charges.
He spoke after leaving the Dutch embassy, where he took refuge on Sunday after pulling out of a run-off vote. He spoke after briefly leaving the Dutch embassy, where he took refuge after pulling out of a run-off vote.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has vowed to go ahead with Friday's vote.Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has vowed to go ahead with Friday's vote.
The time for actions is now, the people and the country can wait no longer - we need to show leadership Morgan Tsvangirai Harare diary: Shell-shockedCan Sadc solve Zimbabwe's crisis?
While campaigning on Tuesday, Mr Mugabe said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone" but only after the election process had reached its logical conclusion.
Mr Mugabe officially came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round in March.Mr Mugabe officially came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round in March.
Mr Tsvangirai announced he was pulling out of the election on Sunday, citing government-backed violence against his supporters. The governing Zanu-PF party, led by Mr Mugabe, also lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980.
Demands
Speaking at a news conference at his home in Harare on Wednesday, Mr Tsvangirai said the run-off would not provide a solution to the crisis and that it was an "exercise in futility".
Mr Tsvangirai listed four key demands that he described as a way out of the crisis.
  • Violence must stop immediately - so-called war veterans and youth militias should return home and checkpoints be removed
  • Humanitarian assistance must be allowed into the country
  • All members of parliament elected on 29 March must be sworn in
  • All political prisoners, including the MDC secretary general, must be released immediately
He said the details of his proposals would need to be hammered out through negotiations.
"What is important is that both parties must realise the country is burning and the only way is to sit down and find a way out of it," Mr Tsvangirai said.
He said there had to be genuine and honest dialogue.
But Mr Tsvangirai warned that the MDC would not enter talks with Mr Mugabe's government if it went ahead with the elections on Friday.
What is important is that both parties must realise the country is burning and the only way is to sit down and find a way out of it Morgan Tsvangirai Zimbabwe: Possible scenariosMining firm defends Zimbabwe planUK to intensify Zimbabwe sanctions
"We have said we are prepared to negotiate on this side of the 27th, not the other side of the 27th," he said.
The government and Zimbabwe's election authority insist the election will go ahead because Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal came too late to prevent his name appearing on the ballot paper.
In an appeal to African leaders, Mr Tsvangirai said the "time for actions is now" to resolve Zimbabwe's political and humanitarian crisis.
"I am asking the AU [African Union] and Sadc [Southern African Development Community] to lead an expanded initiative supported by the UN to manage what I will call a transitional process," he said.
The mediation process has so far been led by South African President Thabo Mbeki and Sadc.
Mr Tsvangirai said the AU role that he was proposing could not "be a continuation of talks and talks about talks that have been largely fruitless for several years.
"The time for actions is now. The people and the country can wait no longer. We need to show leadership."
Mr Tsvangirai returned to the Dutch embassy shortly after making the statement.
Crisis summit
Southern African leaders are meeting to discuss the crisis - amid international calls to isolate President Mugabe.

ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS

ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS

Zimbabwe's opposition is hoping neighbouring countries will put pressure on President Robert Mugabe to step down. In the past they supported him. How are relations now?Zimbabwe's opposition is hoping neighbouring countries will put pressure on President Robert Mugabe to step down. In the past they supported him. How are relations now?
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line.South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki is the key Zimbabwe mediator. He has refused to criticise Robert Mugabe but the ruling ANC and trade unions have urged him to take a stronger line.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. He says Zimbabwe is a regional "embarrassment".Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has taken the region's strongest line on Zimbabwe. He says Zimbabwe is a regional "embarrassment".
Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies - they fought colonialism together in the 1970s. He has urged Mr Mugabe to stop the violence.Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is one of Robert Mugabe's closest allies - they fought colonialism together in the 1970s. He has urged Mr Mugabe to stop the violence.
Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about the political violence. It has been supportive of Zimbabwe's opposition.Botswana has summoned a Zimbabwean envoy to complain about the political violence. It has been supportive of Zimbabwe's opposition.
Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it, too, is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the election violence.Namibia is a close ally of Zimbabwe - it, too, is planning to redistribute white-owned farms to black villagers. It has not criticised the election violence.
Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition.Mozambique has hosted some white farmers forced from Zimbabwe and is seen as relatively sympathetic to Zimbabwe's opposition.
Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and its foreign minister has condemned the violence.Tanzania's ruling party has a long history of close ties to Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and its foreign minister has condemned the violence.
DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels.DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila is an ally of Robert Mugabe, who sent troops to help his father, Laurent Kabila, fight rebels.
Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were often assaulted during farm invasions.Malawi is seen as neutral. But some 3m people of Malawian origin are in Zimbabwe, mostly farmworkers who have lost their jobs and were often assaulted during farm invasions.
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The Zimbabwean government has been criticised by the United Nations and South Africa's governing ANC party for the violence. The Sadc summit involves leaders from Swaziland, Tanzania and Angola - but not from South Africa, despite earlier indications that President Thabo Mbeki would attend.
Speaking at a news conference at his home in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said the run-off would not provide a solution to the crisis, describing the vote as an "exercise in futility".
In an appeal to African leaders, Mr Tsvangirai said the "time for action is now" to resolve Zimbabwe's political and humanitarian crisis.
"I am asking the AU [African Union] and Sadc [Southern African Development Community] to lead an expanded initiative supported by the UN to manage what I will call a transitional process," he said.
Southern African leaders are meeting to discuss the crisis - amid international calls to isolate President Mugabe.
The summit involves leaders from Swaziland, Tanzania and Angola - but not from South Africa, despite earlier indications that President Thabo Mbeki would attend.
His spokesman said he had not been invited. The Angolan representative said Mr Mbeki's views would be taken into account.His spokesman said he had not been invited. The Angolan representative said Mr Mbeki's views would be taken into account.
Demands Mr Tsvangirai announced he was pulling out of the election on Sunday, saying that government-backed violence against his supporters made a free and fair vote impossible.
Mr Tsvangirai also listed four key demands that he described as a way out of the crisis. The Zimbabwean government has been criticised by the United Nations and South Africa's governing ANC party, among others, for the violence.
  • Violence must stop immediately - war veterans and youth militias should return home and checkpoints be removed
  • Humanitarian assistance must be allowed into the country
  • All members of parliament elected on 29 March must be sworn in
  • All political prisoners, including the MDC secretary general, must be released immediately
He said the details of his proposals would need to be hammered out through negotiations.
The MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party. The government blames the MDC for the violence.The MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party. The government blames the MDC for the violence.
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