ZIMBABWE:ZIMBABWE'S MAIN opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has postponed signing an agreement that would lead to powersharing talks with the ruling regime after discussing it with African Union chairman Jean Ping, according to state media.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was due to be signed on Wednesday by President Robert Mugabe, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Mr Tsvangirai and the head of the MDC breakaway faction, Arthur Mutambara.
"It was agreed that the MoU was to be signed in Harare on Wednesday by the three principals and that commitment was conveyed to the facilitator," said an unnamed official in the Herald newspaper.
"On Wednesday morning, Mr Tsvangirai indicated that he was not going to attend because he had received instructions from Jean Ping not to sign the MoU."
It is believed that the understanding addresses many of the concerns the opposition says have to be dealt with before any powersharing talks with the ruling Zanu-PF party could take place.
The document is said to call for a cessation to the violence that has gripped the country since the disputed March 29th election, which Mr Tsvangirai won but not by a majority.
It also outlines the need for dialogue to be facilitated under Southern African Development Community and African Union resolutions.
Both parties were forced into talks this month by regional leaders after Mr Mugabe declared himself winner of the June 27th presidential run-off, despite Mr Tsvangirai pulling out of the poll because of bloodshed that cost the lives of at least 120 of his supporters.
Mr Tsvangirai told South Africa's Star newspaper: "It is not that we are refusing to sign, but that the processes need to be tightened." The MDC leader went on to say his party would wait until later this week before a final decision on whether to sign would be taken, in order to see the outcome of talks between South African president Thabo Mbeki, the chief facilitator, and Mr Ping, who is due in the region.
Mr Tsvangirai's reservations are believed to be rooted in his fear of succumbing to the same fate as the late Joshua Nkomo.
The leader of the liberation movement Zapu went into a coalition government with Zanu-PF in 1980 after the country won its freedom from colonial rule in order to end violence between the groups that many feared would lead to a civil war.
While Mr Nkomo was given a ministerial position in Mr Mugabe's government, his party was neutralised because of the deal and absorbed by Zanu-PF.