afrol News, 22 August - Zimbabwean war veterans have today accused opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of dragging his feet to end power-sharing talks on orders from Western powers.

War veterans backed by national army and ruling ZANU-PF militants, "Green bombers" served as president Robert Mugabe's political shock forces in his campaign to retain country's June election run-off, which Mr Tsvangirai shunned, claiming attacks on his supporters.

Their leader Jabulani Sibanda, has announced that the president would never bow down to "Tsvangirai's attempts to grab more power in talks," aimed at ending crisis that has deepened since election.

Mr Sibanda reportedly said today that Mr Mugabe won 27 June run-off election, adding that it is the president's prerogative to open country's seventh parliament, over Mr Tsvangirai's objections.

"War veterans, who are custodians of country's revolution, welcome convening of parliament set for next week," Mr Sibanda told media, urging Mr Mugabe to form new cabinet.

He added, "West had engineered impasse in talks so that their preferred leader takes over."

He notes that Mr Tsvangirai keeps demanding more, and the more he demands, the more sanctions are imposed, so that ruling ZANU-PF yield to his demands.

"That is a condition that will never happen, a step that will never be taken by ZANU-PF as a party and the people of Zimbabwe," Mr Sibanda said.

The president has always blamed leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), of being a puppet of United States and former colonial power Britain and ignoring Western sanctions, he blames for Zimbabwe's economic decline.

For his part, leader of Movement for Democratic Change has denied accusation and today announced that ruling ZANU-PF was to blame for the stalemate.

MDC leader yesterday confirmed that power-sharing talks were deadlocked over roles of president and prime minister in a new government.

Mr Mugabe is expected to remain as president but, backed by security chiefs, he is reluctant to cede key powers. Mr Tsvangirai wants a real executive power as prime minister.

Western countries, key to the funding that Zimbabwe needs to emerge from economic collapse, have said they would only recognise a government led by the MDC leader.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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