Zimbabwe

Tsvangirai heads for Zambia summit - but will Mugabe attend?

Article published on the 2008-04-11 Latest update 2008-04-11 13:48 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai
(Photo : AFP)

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change party, today met South African president Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria, ahead of an emergency summit of southern African leaders in Zambia. Tsvangirai earlier said he will not participate in an election run-off. Both he and incumbent President Robert Mugabe were set to attend the Zambia meeting but it's now unclear whether Mugabe will go.

Almost a fortnight after the country's presidential election, there has still been no announcement of the outcome.

Supporters of President Mugabe claim that neither candidate won last month's elections outright.

Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party says there must be a run-off, while the opposition says Tsvangirai won.

And the MDC has gone to the High Court to gain the release of the results.

No decision on the matter is expected till Monday at the earliest. The ruling party is contesting seats to overturn a slim opposition majority, and has also demanded a total recount of the presidential vote.