Tsvangirai warns of bleak future

Mr Tsvangirai said voting for change was not enough
Zimbabwe's opposition leader has said that his country is facing a bleak future and looking at the precipice, as it struggles with economic crisis.

But Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC Zimbabweans were resilient and had a shared commitment to see the end of President Robert Mugabe's rule.

This meant taking to the streets to express their discontent, he said.

Zimbabwe is suffering food, fuel and foreign currency shortages, and inflation topped 1,000% in April.

The opposition says Mr Mugabe's economic mismanagement has destroyed what was once one of Africa's most vibrant economies.

Mr Mugabe blames the economic problems on sabotage by western nations opposed to his policy of land redistribution.

'Shared commitment'

In an interview for BBC One's Breakfast programme, Mr Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe's situation was "catastrophic".

"The people will always prevail - no dictatorship is permanent"


"The country's looking at the precipice," he said.

"The people of Zimbabwe are resilient ... and have a shared commitment to see the dictatorship go," he added.

"The people will always prevail. No dictatorship is permanent."

But he said that because of alleged fraud in past elections voting for change was not enough, and people would need to go onto the streets to express their discontent.

Opposition split

The opposition leader also criticised South Africa's mediation role in the crisis, saying it was pursuing a policy of stability rather than democracy and remained suspicious of any change of government.

Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been seeking for several years to unseat Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980.

But the MDC split last year over whether or not to take part in elections to the country's senate.

Observers say President Mugabe continues to take advantage of the weakened opposition.

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