Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Wednesday he welcomed proposed talks with the government over a possible power-sharing deal to heal rifts caused by last week’s controversial presidential vote.
The government has come under heavy pressure from many quarters, including the African Union, to reach out to the opposition to settle the country’s long-running political crisis.
Tsvangirai, who pulled out from last week’s poll over violence, and subsequently took refude at the Dutch embassy, said he was willing to enter into talks with the government, but insisted on a transitional administration to run the country.
His party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has said President Robert Mugabe’s victory in last week’s election was illegitimate, and pressed for a fresh poll.
“The MDC is willing to enter into dialogue to find a negotiated solution to the crisis that we are facing,” Tsvangirai said.
But he said the talks should focus on power sharing and a transitional governing administration, including the MDC.
The government has said it was ready to talk to the opposition, but has so far ruled out co-opting its opponents into power. Panapress .
