Neighboring leaders to meet about Zimbabwe

Zambia’s president on Wednesday called an emergency summit of southern African leaders to try to resolve the growing political crisis paralyzing neighboring Zimbabwe as opposition leaders pressed ahead with demands that President Robert Mugabe release long-delayed election results.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says its candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the March 29 vote outright. It accuses Mugabe of delaying the release of the results so he can orchestrate a runoff and give ruling party militants time to intimidate rural voters and ensure he does not lose a second vote.

Tsvangirai embarked on a trip around the region Wednesday — beginning with Botswana — in hopes that Mugabe’s peers can persuade him to end the standoff.

“I will be going around the countries in the region to make that point that (southern Africa) does not need that political chaos and dislocation on their doorstep,” Tsvangirai told South African state radio.

With no resolution in sight 11 days after the election, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa called an emergency summit of southern African leaders for Saturday to discuss the crisis, Zambia’s information minister said. Mwanawasa is the current head of the Southern African Development Community.

The meeting will work to adopt a coordinated regional strategy for Zimbabwe, Zambia’s state radio quoted Mwanawasa as saying.

Summit instead of delegation
Mwanawasa had originally planned to send a delegation of former heads of state to investigate the situation in Zimbabwe but decided to hold an urgent summit instead because the situation had grown so serious, radio reported.

Information Minister Mike Mulongoti said he was not sure if Mugabe will attend.

With the crisis deepening, Tsvangirai made a possible overture toward the ruling party, telling state radio he wants a government that would “create space for everyone.” Even so, Mugabe must step down after 28 years in power, he said.

“I think it’s time for him to take his retirement,” Tsvangirai said from Botswana.

Pressure continued to build on the government, with Australia joining calls from the United Nations, Britain, the European Union and the U.S. to release the results.

“There is simply no excuse for them being withheld more than a week after the poll,” Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

“There are mixed signals from the Zimbabwe government on the next steps but all appear to add up to a lack of respect for the will of the people,” he said.

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EU chief Jose Manuel Barroso urged Mugabe to accept voters’ demand for change.

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“One thing should be made very clear to Mr. Mugabe and his entourage: The people of Zimbabwe want a change. They want democracy. They want freedom. They want to be able to tackle poverty and tackle the economic chaos,” Barroso said in Brussels, Belgium.

Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress, also repeated earlier entreaties that “results be announced as a matter of urgency,” spokeswoman Jessie Duarte said.

Candidate: Election commission vanished
Simba Makoni, a former finance minister who received less than 10 percent of the presidential vote according to independent tallies, said he was baffled by the delay.

“The inordinate delay in announcing the results of the presidential election has only served to heighten tensions and is not serving the best interest of the country,” he said.

Makoni said he went to the election commission several days ago and asked to see where the vote verification was taking place, and was denied permission. The commission has since closed its offices, and when Makoni asked for the location of the new office, he was again refused.

Mugabe’s party has called for a recount. A High Court hearing to resolve the matter continued Wednesday, with election commission lawyers arguing that they need more time to verify the results.

Mugabe has virtually conceded that he did not win. The opposition accused him of campaigning for a future runoff by intimidating his foes and fanning racial tensions. Tendai Biti, secretary general of the MDC, cited “massive violence” in traditional ruling party strongholds that voted for the opposition.

Government officials say there has been no outbreak of violence. Reports that people are being beaten up and their homes torched could not be confirmed.

Zimbabwe’s commercial farmers union say ruling party supporters have forced dozens of white farmers off their land. Several farmers reached by The Associated Press said the invasions continued overnight Tuesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were worried about recrimination.