President Robert Mugabe ruled out any new talks with Zimbabwe’s opposition on the country’s economic and political crisis, citing its alleged ties with Britain, the former colonial power, the state Sunday Mail reported.
Addressing a ruling party assembly, Mugabe alleged the Movement for Democratic Change was taking orders from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government.
Southern African countries that have called for the resumption of dialogue with the opposition ”should have realised by now the MDC is an agent of Mr Blair,” Mugabe was quoted as saying.
”We cannot have serious discussions with the MDC as they don’t have any authority to decide. They still have to report to their masters in Europe,” Mugabe said on Saturday, according to the newspaper.
He said Blair had acknowledged in the British Parliament last week that Britain was trying to help bring about ”regime change” in Zimbabwe, the newspaper reported.
”If there are any talks that need to be done, they have to be between the British and the Zimbabwean governments,” Mugabe was quoted as saying.
South African President Thabo Mbeki has been trying to broker new talks in Zimbabwe after a first round collapsed after disputed presidential elections in 2002.
Mbeki had predicted new talks on an internal political deal would be completed by June this year.
No formal talks have taken place since the first round collapsed when Mugabe demanded the opposition recognise his disputed victory in the presidential polls.
Opposition leaders and independent observers say Mugabe, the only ruler since independence in 1980, used intimidation and vote rigging to win re-election and continue his authoritarian rule.
The opposition refused to drop a court challenge on the poll results. Neighbouring South Africa’s policy of ”quiet diplomacy” toward Zimbabwe has drawn domestic and international criticism.
Zimbabwe faces its worst political and economic crisis since independence from Britain, with soaring inflation and acute shortages of food, fuel, medicine and essential goods.
Mugabe has also intensified a crackdown on dissent, arresting opposition and labour leaders and shutting down the country’s only independent daily newspaper. – Sapa-AP