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 05 September 2008 10:33 BST

Mandela laments "tragic failure" in Zimbabwe

Thursday, 26 Jun 2008 13:00
Morgan Tsvangirai warns Robert Mugabe time running out for talks
Nelson Mandela has spoken out against the "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe.

The former South African president's comments came during a speech at a fundraising dinner in Britain, where he is paying a visit for celebrations on his 90th birthday. A concert in Hyde Park will pay tribute to the leader this evening.

Mr Mandela said: "Nearer to home we had seen the outbreak of violence against fellow Africans in our own country and the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe."

His comments came hours before a senior figure in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Tendai Biti, was released on bail. Mr Biti is accused of treason and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who was forced to pull out of tomorrow's second-round presidential poll because of a campaign of violence against his supporters.

Today he hinted that if Mr Mugabe goes ahead with tomorrow's election he may withdraw his current willingness to sit down and negotiate with the 84-year-old leader.

He told the Times: "How can you call yourself an elected president? You are illegitimate and I will not speak to an illegitimate president."

US president George Bush added to pressure on Mr Mugabe yesterday, telling permanent representatives of the UN security council that the "sham" elections are "not just" and "wrong".

South African president Thabo Mbeki, however, continues to resist calls to join those attacking Mr Mugabe because of his role as chief mediator with the Zimbabwe regime.

"We don't think that you want a mediator who is going to be somebody who condemns publicly the people he is mediating with," Jessie Duarte of Mr Mbeki's African National Congress (ANC) party said on the Today programme this morning.

"We as the ANC are not mediating. We are able to see and say that the situation in Zimbabwe is untenable, and that the liberation ideals that we shared with Zanu-PF are not the same as they were."End of story


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