NAIROBI - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday it would attend the swearing in of new MPs next week but opposed the convening of parliament.
NAIROBI - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday it would attend the swearing in of new MPs next week but opposed the convening of parliament.
Tsvangirai, pictured, said any parliamentary session would be "a violation, repudiation of some of the conditions on the memorandum of understanding" signed with President Robert Mugabe last month on power-sharing talks.
"President Mugabe would not proceed to do anything unilaterally. Any step that we take has to be by consensus," Tsvangirai told journalists in Nairobi, where he came to seek advice on the workings of a power-sharing government.
"We are going to parliament to defend our mandate. Our problem is with the convening of parliament, not the swearing in of members," MDC secretary- general Tendai Biti said.
The MDC said it had not consented to the reconvening of parliament after controversial elections, claiming it could endanger talks to resolve the country's political crisis.
Tsvangirai held talks with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who in February signed a power-sharing agreement with President Mwai Kibaki to end a deadly post-election violence that killed 1500 people.
Tsvangirai called for a share of executive authority with Mugabe in a final coalition government agreement.
"We want cooperation and sharing of power not sharing of positions," he said.
The MDC chief said the talks adjourned last week were stuck on the roles of the envisioned prime minister's post and the president.
"There is one stumbling issue, which is the framework (of) powers and roles of president and the new position of prime minister for the duration of transition. - Sapa-AFP
mdc opposes parly session
NAIROBI - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday it would attend the swearing in of new MPs next week but opposed the convening of parliament.
NAIROBI - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change party led by Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday it would attend the swearing in of new MPs next week but opposed the convening of parliament.
Tsvangirai, pictured, said any parliamentary session would be "a violation, repudiation of some of the conditions on the memorandum of understanding" signed with President Robert Mugabe last month on power-sharing talks.
"President Mugabe would not proceed to do anything unilaterally. Any step that we take has to be by consensus," Tsvangirai told journalists in Nairobi, where he came to seek advice on the workings of a power-sharing government.
"We are going to parliament to defend our mandate. Our problem is with the convening of parliament, not the swearing in of members," MDC secretary- general Tendai Biti said.
The MDC said it had not consented to the reconvening of parliament after controversial elections, claiming it could endanger talks to resolve the country's political crisis.
Tsvangirai held talks with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who in February signed a power-sharing agreement with President Mwai Kibaki to end a deadly post-election violence that killed 1500 people.
Tsvangirai called for a share of executive authority with Mugabe in a final coalition government agreement.
"We want cooperation and sharing of power not sharing of positions," he said.
The MDC chief said the talks adjourned last week were stuck on the roles of the envisioned prime minister's post and the president.
"There is one stumbling issue, which is the framework (of) powers and roles of president and the new position of prime minister for the duration of transition. - Sapa-AFP
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