Zimbabwe opposition says powersharing 'political suicide' (Roundup)

Jan 18, 2009, 13:37 GMT

Harare - Zimbabwe's opposition said Sunday it will not 'commit political suicide' by entering into a government with President Robert Mugabe without the power to deliver change.

Speaking at a national executive meeting of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ahead of talks on forming a government of national unity, MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said: 'We cannot go into positions of authority without the attendant and consequent power to enable us to deliver on change, food and jobs.'

'It is an act of political hara-kiri, political suicide and we are not ready to commit suicide yet. We cannot commit political suicide by entering into a government limping and in pain,' he said.

'We are going to insist on the outstanding issues which are to do with equity of ministries, making sure that we attain the position of governors in line with the March 29 election and therefore we are going to insist and stick to our position and we hope Mr Mugabe and (his party) Zanu-PF will appreciate the nobility of our very vital position,' Chamisa said.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe had earlier set a Monday meeting with the opposition - a meeting in which regional leaders from neighbouring countries are expected to attend as observers - as the last chance to present concerns before a government is formed, with or without the opposition.

'This is the occasion when it's either they accept or it's a break,' said Mugabe, quoted in the state-owned Sunday Mail. 'After all, this is an interim agreement. If (the opposition) have any issues they deem outstanding, they can raise them after they come into the inclusive government.'

In response to Mugabe's stance, Chamisa said: 'Mugabe is a failure and cannot dictate pace. If they choose to terminate the talks by their arrogance let it be, we will not give Mugabe latitude to be funny.'

Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed a power sharing deal in September, that would keep Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president, with Tsvangirai becoming prime minister.

A national unity government however has not be formed, with Tsvangirai previously threatening to pull out of the power-sharing deal, saying that Mugabe's party was unfairly trying to hold onto the majority of the most-powerful ministries, despite the MDC's wins in last year's elections.

The MDC won a majority of legislative seats in elections last year. Tsvangirai won the most votes in a presidential election last year, but not an outright majority. He pulled out of a run-off election, citing unfair and violent tactics by the Zanu-PF.

Tsvangirai has also cited recent abductions and jailings of MDC members as reasons to be wary of any power-sharing deal with the Zanu-PF. He blames the abductions on supporters of Mugabe and said at least 11 members of his party are still missing while 32 are in police custody facing charges of toppling Mugabe.

But, upon returning to Zimbabwe on Saturday, he said he was committed to a power-sharing deal with Mugabe. However, he vowed not to be rushed into joining an inclusive government.

'I am very conscious of the plight of the people of this country and I hope that the meetings that are going to take place may actually find a lasting solution to the crisis,' he said Saturday. 'I must emphasize that the MDC will not be bulldozed into an agreement which does not reflect the aspirations of the people.'

The once-prosperous nation is facing its worst-ever economic and humanitarian crisis. Acute shortages of all essentials have pushed inflation to the highest levels in the world - officially at 231 percent as of last July.

The United Nations says more than 5 million face starvation if there is no food aid. Additionally, a cholera outbreak has claimed more than 2,200 lives as the country fails to import adequate stocks of water-treatment chemicals.

The raging epidemic coincides with a strike, now in its fourth month, by doctors and nurses demanding a review of their salaries. They are demanding that hospitals replace archaic equipment and that medicines be available in hospitals.