Senior figures in Zimbabwe's ruling party have drawn up a plan to exile President Robert Mugabe and replace his regime with a government of national unity, the Timesof London reported this morning.
Under the terms of the scheme, put to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the ruling ZANU-PF party has suggested that Mr Mugabe (78) would receive a guarantee of immunity against prosecution in return for leaving the country for refuge abroad, the paper said.
Sources connected to the ruling party said they believed Mr Mugabe "wants to go" and has agreed to the plan.
MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai said his party was ready to allow Mr Mugabe to receive immunity if he gives up power.
After Mr Mugabe goes, a government of national unity would be set up and elections organised at the end of a transition period of two years, the paper said.
Mr Tsvangirai told the Timesthat Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa, the parliamentary speaker and number three in the ZANU-PF hierarchy, and armed forces commander Gen Vitalis Zvinavashe had contacted him about the scheme and promised that Mr Mugabe would stand down as a first step.
In return the MDC would be ready to offer Mr Mugabe immunity for crimes committed in his repression of his opponents and the seizure of nearly all white-owned farms in the country, the paper said.
"We have more to lose by getting bogged down [on issues like Mr Mugabe's immunity] and more to gain by saying this a hurdle we have overcome. We have to give dialogue a chance," Mr Tsvangirai was quoted as saying.
AFP