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'No deal' for Mugabe to step down
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Tuesday his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday's election, but denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:08 April 2, 2008
- Image Credit: Reuters
- Reports have speculated that Robert Mugabe, who has been in power for almost three decades, is ready to step down.
Harare: Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Tuesday his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday's election, but denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
Tsvangirai said, "There is no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) has actually announced the result. That's the legal position."
He added, "It is not confirmed … So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there."
Senior Zanu-PF figures also rejected reports of a deal.
Tsvangirai claimed to have won more than the 50 per cent plus one vote needed for victory.
However, reports have emerged that Mugabe, who has been in power for almost three decades, is on the verge of stepping down.
A businessman close to the state electoral commission and a lawyer close to the opposition said earlier that the two men's aides were negotiating a graceful exit for the country's leader of 28 years.
Several diplomats said they had heard similar reports of secret negotiations but could not confirm talks were under way.
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