Leaders fail to persuade Mugabe to stand down

A mission by three southern African leaders aimed at resolving the political crisis in Zimbabwe by securing the departure of President Robert Mugabe ended in dismal failure yesterday.

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, the Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Malawi President, Bakili Muluzi, jetted into Harare yesterday for meetings with President Mugabe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. They had a plan to resume dialogue between Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party and Mr Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the hope that this would lead to a deal for the 79-year old Mr Mugabe's retirement.

The leaders, with the backing of Britain and the United States, now accept Mr Mugabe's retirement as the first realistic step to resolving the Zimbabwe crisis.

Mr Mugabe told the three leaders that he wants to be recognised as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe by Mr Tsvangirai and his MDC before engaging in any dialogue with them. This means that the MDC must withdraw a court application challenging Mr Mugabe's controversial re-election in March last year. The election was dismissed by international observers as fraudulent.

But Mr Tsvangirai flatly rejected Mr Mugabe's demand and vowed not to recognise him, MDC officials said. Mr Tsvangirai told the leaders that he wants dialogue with Mr Mugabe to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis but insisted that this has to be unconditional dialogue.

The Nigerian leader later conceded that there were "sticking points" in the attempts to resume dialogue between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai.

After meeting Mr Tsvangirai, Mr Obasanjo and Mr Muluzi went back to Mr Mugabe to inform him of the MDC position while Mr Mbeki left for the Congo.

Mr Mugabe said: "Does the MDC now say they recognise me? That is the issue. If they do, that means action in court has to be withdrawn, and we start talking."

The African leaders want Mr Mugabe to be replaced by a new leader from within Zanu-PF. The new leader would then form a transitional authority to implement an agenda for reforms. This will include convening a constitutional conference leading to presidential and parliamentary elections in 2005.

The constitutional amendment required to achieve this needs the support of the opposition since Mr Mugabe does not command a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and a new election would have to be held in 90 days if he retires. Mr Mugabe is vehemently opposed to an early election.

The opposition has so far insisted on an immediate re-run of last year's presidential election. The three African leaders oppose this MDC demand because they think it will only make Mr Mugabe cling to power, causing the Zimbabwe crisis to deepen.

Mr Tsvangirai said: "The talks were very productive and forthright and forward looking. There is now a degree of urgency on their [the leaders] part to see us go to the negotiating table with Mugabe."