Zimbabwe boycott threat

ZIMBABWE’S opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) may boycott a meeting to discuss a constitutional bill that would allow President Robert Mugabe to form a unity government, an opposition official said.

A power-sharing agreement signed by Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on September 15 has faltered as the two fight over control of key ministries.

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who brokered the deal, has called for a meeting in South Africa this week where the parties would review proposed constitutional changes giving effect to a power-sharing government.

But Tsvangirai’s MDC, which has refused to accept the terms offered by Mugabe and wants full control of the home affairs ministry overseeing the police, has responded coolly.

A senior party source said some officials wanted the MDC to boycott the meeting in protest against the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) stance on the dispute between Mugabe’s ZANU-PF and the MDC.