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Tsvangirai has a plan
29/06/2008 10:36 - (SA)
London - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said in interviews published on Sunday he would push for negotiations with President Robert Mugabe on a new constitution and fresh elections.
He also kept open the possibility that Mugabe could remain as a ceremonial head of state.
Speaking ahead of the expected announcement that Mugabe had won re-election in Friday's run-off vote in which he was the only candidate, Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party would use its parliamentary majority, which it won in elections in March, to force negotiations over a transitional arrangement.
"We must bring the old man to the negotiating table as soon as possible," he was quoted as saying by the Mail on Sunday from Harare.
"We have the power to control parliament, and that is recognised even by Mugabe's Zanu-PF ... We must force a transitional agreement for a set time-frame and work towards a new constitution for Zimbabwe.
"I am confident we can achieve that if international pressure keeps up."
In a separate interview to the Sunday Telegraph, Tsvangirai said under such a scenario Mugabe could possibly remain as a figurehead president.
"I don't think it's inconceivable for such an arrangement to include him, depending, of course, on the details of what is being proposed and what are the arrangements."
International condemnation has continued of Friday's vote, which was boycotted by the MDC, with the United States pledging to tighten sanctions against Mugabe's "illegitimate" government.
Tsvangirai won the first round of the election, but pulled out of the contest last weekend after nearly 90 MDC supporters were killed in attacks he blames on pro-Mugabe militias.
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
