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Zimbabwe

SADC to hold Zimbabwe emergency meeting

Article published on the 2008-06-24 Latest update 2008-06-25 14:24 TU

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe greets supporters of his ruling ZANU PF on June 24.(Credit: Reuters)

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe greets supporters of his ruling ZANU PF on June 24.
(Credit: Reuters)

In the midst of the current political crisis in Zimbabwe, southern African leaders will hold an emergency meeting in Mbanane on Wednesday. The 14 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet, including South African President and Zimbabwe mediator, Thabo Mbeki.

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"The agenda of the meeting will centre on how SADC will help Zimbabwe to recover from a crisis it is currently facing ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections," according to a statement issued by the regional body.

The opposition party MDC Treasurer-General Roy Bennet spoke to RFI, saying that the solutions lie in Africa now to apply pressure to save Zimbabwe from total collapse.

Zimbabwean opposition MDC Treasurer-General Roy Bennet

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24/06/2008 by Billie O'Kadameri

MDC today officially delivered a letter to the Electoral Commission announcing a formal pull out from the runoff against incumbent Robert Mugabe, citing pre-poll violence against opposition party supporters as the reason for withdrawal.

Defying international pressure, Zimbabwe has vowed to push ahead with plans for a presidential run-off vote this Friday.

Leader of the opposition Morgan Tsvangirai is still taking refuge in the Dutch embassy, and he said he'll leave when he is satisfied that it is safe to do so.

MDC Tuesday officially delivered a letter to the Electoral Commission announcing a formal pull out from the runoff against incumbent Robert Mugabe, citing pre-poll violence against opposition party supporters as the reason for withdrawal.

The letter says that some 86 people had been killed, 10,000 homes destryoed and 200,000 people displaced because of the violence.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told Angloan state media that the situation in Zimbabwe was "extremely peaceful."

Mugabe today accused Britain, the United States and their allies of lying to the world to justify intervention in his country.