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MDC says it may boycott election
Basildon Peta, Cape Argus (SA)
May 16, 2007

http://allafrica.com/stories/200705160428.html

Zimbabwe's main opposition leader said his party would not contest next year's general elections unless President Thabo Mbeki's mission to create conditions for free and and fair elections succeeded.

Tsvangirai's remarks on the BBC's Hard Talk programme raises the spectre of more chaos in Zimbabwe if the opposition carries through its boycott threat.

Tsvangirai, leader of the main faction of the divided Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said he saw no point in contesting an election with a pre-determined outcome.

"It is no use going into an election that is already rigged ... with a lot of violence against the opposition, no voter education, no credible voters roll...."

Although he shared the views of critics of President Mbeki's quiet diplomacy in Zimbabwe over its failure to produce results, Tsvangirai said he hoped Mbeki's latest initiative on Zimbabwe would produce results.

Mbeki was mandated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate in Zimbabwe and ensure that next year's elections are not disputed.

But several officials of President Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party have already publicly poured scorn on the mediation effort.

ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira recently said the ruling party would not talk to the MDC because it was not a loyal opposition party.

"We are not in disarray but Mugabe is trying to decapitate the opposition ahead of next year's elections," said Tsvangirai.

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