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Mugabe rival robbed at gunpoint Mugabe rival aides robbed in SA
(1 day later)
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been robbed at gunpoint at his office in Johannesburg, police in South Africa said. The driver and aide of Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai were robbed at gunpoint outside his office in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Neither Mr Tsvangirai nor two officials from his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) also present were harmed by the three armed thieves. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader said he and a colleague were not directly involved in the incident as had been reported earlier.
Mr Tsvangirai is in South Africa to brief foreign journalists about Zimbabwe's elections on 29 March.
He said despite an uneven playing field, the MDC would participate.
The robbery occurred shortly after his arrival on Tuesday in Johannesburg's district of Bryanston, where the MDC has an office in exile.
The robbers stole bags, laptops, mobile phones and money.The robbers stole bags, laptops, mobile phones and money.
He was reportedly in South Africa to meet foreign journalists to discuss the 29 March presidential poll in Zimbabwe. Welcome
The incident occurred shortly after his arrival in Johannesburg's district of Bryanston, where the MDC has an office in exile. Mr Tsvangirai said that Zimbabweans were living in a dictatorship under President Robert Mugabe, not a democracy and the polls were not going to be free and fair.
Mr Tsvangirai declared at the weekend his intention to stand against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. But he said the MDC would nevertheless contest the elections, and was running to win.
The MDC has insisted on a new constitution before the elections, as well as guarantees they would be free and fair. He welcomed Simba Makoni, the former finance minister, and now a presidential hopeful, to the ranks of the opposition.
Previous polls have been characterised by violence and allegations of fraud. He said he would work with anyone who was prepared to close ranks against President Mugabe and the ruling party
But the BBC's Peter Biles says he gave no hint that he and Mr Makoni were about to form an electoral coalition.
He pointed out that Simba Makoni had been a member of Zanu-PF's politburo while the Zimbabwean economy had been destroyed.
Referring to the failed mediation efforts which have been led by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Mr Tsvangirai said Mr Mbeki needed to show courage, and add his voice to those demanding free and fair elections.