MDC suspends government boycott after SADC summit (1st Lead)

Nov 6, 2009, 10:18 GMT

   Maputo - Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced late Thursday his party would end a boycott of the country's unity government and gave President Robert Mugabe's party 30 days to fulfill its commitments under a power-sharing agreement.

   Tsvangirai made the announcement in Maputo, Mozambique after a regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit.

   SADC leaders had urged Mugabe and Tsvangirai to resume their cooperation in the interest of the country.

In an interview from Maputo, Tsvangirai spokesman James Maridadi said: 'The prime minister has suspended his party's partial disengagement to give dialogue another chance.'

But he added: 'Unlike in the past, there is a time limit on when the negotiations are supposed to be finished.'

Disagreements should be resolved within 15 days, and any outstanding issues implemented within 30, the MDC said.

In a communique, the SADC - which acts as guarantor of Zimbabwe's uneasy unity pact - said South African President Jacob Zuma would monitor the new talks between Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

    The MDC had announced three weeks ago it was 'disengaging' from the Zanu-PF until it relented and implemented reforms. The MDC had been boycotting cabinet meetings, but its ministers continue to run their departments.

   The pull-out had led to fears of a return to violence in Zimbabwe.

Among the issues of contention is the appointment of senior government officials, including the attorney general and the central bank head.

Tsvangirai also accuses Mugabe of using state powers to allow the police and security agents to harass MDC members.

Tsvangirai had launched his boycott after MDC treasurer Roy Bennett was detained over alleged terrorism and other charges - a crime which carries the death sentence in Zimbabwe. The trial against Bennett is due to start Monday.

Mugabe, on the other hand, accuses Tsvangirai of failing to appeal to the international community to lift sanctions imposed on Mugabe and other senior Zanu-PF members in 2002 by the West following allegations of rigging elections and abusing human rights.