MDC warns of political suicide

2008-09-04 22:51

Harare - Zimbabwe's main opposition party said on Thursday President Robert Mugabe will be committing "political suicide" if he goes ahead with his threat to unilaterally form a government.

"If Mugabe wants to commit political suicide by unilaterally appointing a cabinet, that's his choice. We will not stand in his way," Neslon Chamisa, a spokesperson for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), told AFP.

Mugabe was quoted in state media on Thursday saying that he would move ahead and form a government if MDC leader Morgan Tvsangirai did not sign a power-sharing deal on Thursday.

"If after tomorrow (Thursday), Tsvangirai does not want to sign, we will certainly put together a cabinet. We feel frozen at the moment," Mugabe told the state daily, The Herald.

Talks between Mugabe and opposition leader Tsvangirai were deadlocked in mid-August over what the opposition claims is Mugabe's desire to retain control of the country's security forces.

Attempts last week to revive the negotiations by South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating in the crisis, failed.

"Our position remains the same. We have not and we are not getting into any deal with Mugabe which does not help the people of Zimbabwe," Chamisa said on Thursday.

"If Mugabe decides to form a cabinet it will be ineffective since it will be chosen from the same men and women who authored the crisis. If he does that Mugabe will have chosen to drive a car without the engine," he added.

- AFP