Zimbabawe: Gov’t, opposition agreement not enough-MDC leader i

(SomaliNet) Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Tuesday that an agreement to hold talks with Zimbabwe\'s ruling party will not necessarily guarantee an end to the country\'s political crisis.

MDC boss Tsvangirai said a deal he signed on Monday with President Robert Mugabe offered \"the most tangible opportunity in the past ten years to improve the lives of our fellow citizens\".

\"But our signatures alone do not guarantee that we will be able to make the most of this opportunity,\" the Movement for Democratic Change leader added.

The negotiations, due to begin in South Africa later on Tuesday, will fail if they were held against a backdrop of violence, Tsvangirai said.

On June 27, the MDC leader withdrew from a run-off presidential election against Mugabe after dozens of his followers were killed in attacks he blamed on supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party, and claims the violence has continued.

Part of Monday\'s agreement is for all sides to commit themselves to non-violence.

\"Our shared goal is best achieved in a climate of tolerance and stability, not divisiveness and anger,\" said Tsvangirai.

\"These negotiations can only proceed and succeed if the rule of law is restored, if people are able to go about their business in safety, if the public media refrain from using hate speech to polarise the community (and) if the persecution of MDC MPs, members and supporters ceases,\" he added.

Monday\'s signing ceremony marked the first meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai since the formation of the MDC nearly a decade ago. - Sapa-AFP