afrol News, 21 August - Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) announced its intentions yesterday to attend swearing in of newly elected parliamentarians next week, but said its against convening of Zimbabwe's seventh parliament.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said that any parliamentary session would be "a violation, repudiation of some of conditions on 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," Mr Tsvangirai told media.

Party secretary general Tendai Biti was reported as saying, "we are going to parliament to defend our mandate. Our problem is with convening of parliament, not swearing in of members."

MDC had noted that it had not consented to reconvening of parliament after controversial elections, claiming it could endanger talks to resolve country's worsening political turmoil.

Mr Tsvangirai held talks with Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga who in February signed a power-sharing deal with president Mwai Kibaki to stop widespread post election violence that claimed some 1,500 lives.

He 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, but sharing of power. Executive authority shared between president's and prime minister's office," he reportedly said.

MDC leader said talks adjourned last week were stuck on roles of envisioned prime minister's post and president.

"There is one stumbling issue that we have been grappling with which is the framework (of) powers and roles of president and the new position of prime minister for the duration of transition leading up to two and a half years," he said.

It is unclear when talks to resolve Zimbabwean crisis, ignited by long delay in announcing results of initial March 29 vote, as well as MDC's boycott of second round vote, would resume.

Ruling ZANU-PF suffered historic defeat in legislative elections in March. However, its leader and president, Mr Mugabe was re-elected in a June when he stood uncontested in presidential run-off.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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