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'Mbeki must act quickly on Zim'
02/04/2007 13:26 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday called on President Thabo Mbeki to move rapidly to defuse the escalating political crisis across his northern border.
"It is critical that President Mbeki act quickly and decisively to halt the suffering of millions of Zimbabweans," Tsvangirai told journalists.
"There is no time to waste," Tsvangirai added during a visit to Johannesburg for medical treatment.
Mbeki was appointed last week by fellow southern African countries to act as a mediator between the Zimbabwean government of President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Mugabe openly acknowledged on Friday that his security forces had assaulted Tsvangirai and other members of his MDC movement whom he says are to blame for the political unrest in Zimbabwe.
While the southern African leaders did issue a joint statement of solidarity with Mugabe's government, they are understood to have severely criticised him behind closed doors.
Mbeki has come under fire in some quarters for failing to publicly criticise Mugabe, instead advocating a policy of "quiet diplomacy".
However Tsvangarai said he welcomed the prospect of regional involvement in Zimbabwe's problems.
"The MDC is ready to participate fully in a transparent dialogue," he said.
"The people of Zimbabwe need food and jobs, they need freedom and help."
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
