HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe's battered opposition called yesterday for the deployment of thousands of African Union peacekeeping troops to bring order to a nation ravaged by months of political violence as President Robert Mugabe clings to power after 28 years.
The plea came as African leaders increasingly condemned Mugabe's ruthless campaign of retribution against the opposition that has left 86 party members dead and thousands wounded. A key group of southern African leaders urged Mugabe to cancel Friday's presidential runoff election.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela, speaking in London, complained about “the tragic failure of leadership in our neighboring Zimbabwe.” Kenya's prime minister, Raila Odinga, warned that Zimbabwe “right now is a disaster in the making.”
In Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, Jose Marcos Barrica, an Angolan minister heading an election observer mission for the Southern African Development Community, said, “When a brother beats a brother, that is a crisis.”
Reports of assaults by youth militias have not eased in the three days since opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the vote. With attacks widespread – and Tsvangirai spending most of his time in the safe haven of the Dutch Embassy – opposition officials say that only outside powers can bring peace to Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai's spokesman, George Sibotshiwe, said the party already has tentative commitments from several regional powers, including Tanzania and Angola, for a peacekeeping force. He estimated that 4,000 armed and unarmed troops are needed.
After briefly emerging from the Dutch Embassy, Tsvangirai told reporters gathered at his home that the African Union and southern African regional powers needed to lead a mediation effort in Zimbabwe.
“The time for actions is now,” Tsvangirai said at a news conference. “The people and the country can wait no longer.”
In response to a question, Tsvangirai said he “didn't ask for military intervention, just armed peacekeepers.”
Leaders of the Southern African Development Community, meeting near Swaziland's capital, Mbabane, adopted a four-page statement yesterday in which they called for a postponement of the election and negotiations between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
