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Mugabe a 'caretaker president'
10/04/2008 18:09 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has effectively pulled off an "unconstitutional coup" by not stepping down, the Movement for Democratic Change said on Thursday.
Speaking in Johannesburg, MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti said despite the election results not having been released 300 hours after the voting process, the MDC had won "beyond a reasonable doubt.
"In reality president Robert Mugabe is a caretaker president. There is an illegitimate government in place in Zimbabwe."
Biti said the MDC would not be part of a run-off election.
"It will simply exacerbate a situation of suffering of our people... a new government will have to get on with the business of government."
He said the life expectancy of women was 37 and the life expectancy of men 34. He said there had also been "a complete collapse" of public services.
Run-off a 'run-over'
"A run-off is a mere run-over of people's rights."
He said SADC countries would hold an urgent meeting in Lusaka on Saturday to discuss the crisis.
Biti repeated a call from the MDC for the regional body to demand that Mugabe quit.
"We hope that the SADC meeting on Saturday will tell Mugabe to step down and to concede defeat," Biti said.
The Zimbabwean government stopped short of confirming Mugabe's presence in Lusaka but said he would attend if invited.
Biti for his part said Tsvangirai had been invited and would attend.
Countries had historically been slow to react to the plight of suffering countries such as Rwanda.
"We cannot wait until dead bodies start littering Zimbabwe."
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
