Mbeki slams Tsvangirai

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Johannesburg - Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has accused Zimbabwe's opposition of stonewalling power-sharing talks, in a scathing letter printed in local media on Friday.

The 4 000-word letter, printed in The Star newspaper, was written before the latest round of talks on a unity accord fell apart this week, with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai demanding that Mbeki step down as the mediator in Zimbabwe's political crisis.

Mbeki slammed Tsvangirai's refusal to accept recommendations of regional leaders on forming a unity government with President Robert Mugabe, accusing him of seeking support from the West rather than from African neighbours.

Mbeki said Tsvangirai should "take responsibility for the future of Zimbabwe, rather than see its mission as being a militant critic of President Mugabe and Zanu-PF."

Remarks 'most offensive'

Mbeki took particular issue with Tsvangirai's remarks that southern African leaders "did not have the courage" to stand up to Mugabe at a summit in Johannesburg on November 9.

The summit had recommended that the two parties share control of the contested home affairs ministry, but Tsvangirai rejected the proposal.

"Because we do not agree with you on a small matter, you choose to describe us in a manner that is most offensive in terms of African culture, and therefore offend our sense of dignity as Africans," Mbeki wrote.

"Such manner of proceeding might earn you prominent media headlines. However, I assure you that it will do nothing to solve the problems of Zimbabwe," Mbeki said.

"It may be that, for whatever reason, you consider our region and continent as being of little consequence to the future of Zimbabwe, believing that others further away, in Western Europe and North America, are of greater importance," he added.

Mbeki brokered the power-sharing deal signed on September 15, which calls for Mugabe remaining as president while Tsvangirai becomes prime minister.

Tsvangirai on Wednesday pulled out of the talks, saying no progress had been made and that Mbeki should recuse himself as mediator.

- AFP