ZIMBABWE’s MDC party, shocked by its overwhelming election defeat, has a battle on its hands to convince supporters it has any chance of taking power in the years to come.

Senior negotiators from Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling ZANU-PF party began talks yesterday and a report indicated they were close to reaching a deal on forming a unity government.

Zimbabwe is preparing for what many hope will be a landmark election on Saturday which will finally remove president Robert Mugabe from power.