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MDC remains split, to contest poll
03/02/2008 17:41 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's splintered opposition Movement for Democratic Change will not boycott next month's general elections but will field rival candidates, badly weakening its chances of unseating President Robert Mugabe.
Politicians from both wings of the movement said on Sunday
that two days of talks had failed to reach agreement on a single
candidate to contest the leadership of the southern African
country, which is in the grip of severe economic crisis.
The movement split in 2005 and had been trying to agree on a
pact to unite behind main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to
challenge Mugabe, who turns 84 later this month.
But the smaller MDC group of academic Arthur Mutambara said
talks had broken down and it would go it alone and field
candidates in the presidential, parliamentary and council
elections.
Mutambara accused Tsvangirai's group of making unreasonable
demands and failing to sign an agreed unity pact.
"In the absence of an agreement, we have no choice as a
political party but to go right ahead and provide leadership in
this country," he told reporters.
Boycott
The MDC had earlier said it could boycott the March 29 polls
if Mugabe's government refused to adopt a new draft constitution
agreed between the two sides. That constitution has not been
adopted.
There was no official comment from Tsvangirai's wing, but
party officials said the group would address a press conference
on Sunday and was expected to announce participation in the
elections.
Analysts say a divided opposition stands little chance of
defeating Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from
Britain in 1980 and is accused by critics of plunging the
country into crisis.
"A single candidate philosophy would have made it easier to
deliver victory," said Mutambara.
Mugabe has vowed to clinch a landslide victory in next
month's elections to silence the opposition and shame Western
foes he says are sponsoring his rivals to remove him from power.
Critics say the veteran leader has ruined Zimbabwe through
controversial policies such as the seizure of white-owned farms
for blacks and lately plans to localise foreign-owned companies,
including banks and mines.
Mugabe denies charges he has wrecked a once promising
economy and blames former colonial ruler Britain for leading a
Western onslaught against his government as punishment for the
land seizures.
- Reuters
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Zimbabwe Special Report
