PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe on Friday vowed to resist pressure from fellow African leaders in resolving disputes in the country’s fractious power-sharing government adding he would also defy any ‘prescriptions’ from dialogue facilitator and South Africa President, Jacob Zuma.

"The MDC thinks SADC or the AU can prescribe to us how we run our things," Mugabe was quoted as saying by the state-run New Ziana news agency at a meeting of his party's central committee in Harare.

"We will not brook any dictation from any source. We are a sovereign country. Even our neighbours cannot dictate to us. We will resist that."

Mugabe's remarks followed an unusually strong rebuke from regional leaders criticising the slow pace on the power-sharing deal with Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Tsvangirai and demanding an end to political violence.

The 87-year-old said President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, which brokered the Southern African Development Community (SADC) backed unity deal with Tsvangirai as prime minister, should not dictate what should happen in Zimbabwe.

"The facilitator is the facilitator and must facilitate dialogue," Mugabe was quoted as saying.

"He cannot prescribe anything. We prescribe what we should do in accordance with our laws and our agreement."

Tsvangirai has accused Mugabe of cracking down on his supporters ahead of new elections expected later this year.

The leaders of South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Namibia did not mention either rival by name but echoed concerns raised by Tsvangirai in a statement issued after the SADC's security body met in Zambia.

"The summit noted with grave concern the polarisation of the political environment as characterized by, inter alia, resurgence of violence, arrest and intimidation in Zimbabwe," they said in the communique.

"There must be an immediate end of violence, intimidation, hate speech, harassment, and any other form of action that contradicts the letter and spirit of the GPA" (unity pact).

In interviews after the meeting in Zambia, President Zuma’s adviser, Lindiwe Zulu said the South African leader had made it clear in meetings with Mugabe and Tsvangirai in Livingstone, Zambia that Tsvangirai was not to be arrested and that acts of violence, harassment and intimidation needed to cease

“All these things must stop,” Zuma declared according to Zulu.

MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, said his party appreciated that the influential committee of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community had recognized the severity of Zimbabwe’s problems.

“We await practical measures to make sure that the resolutions have an impact,” he said. “In the past, resolutions are put on paper but not been carried out in practice.”

Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed the unlikely unity government in February 2009 to end a political and economic crisis after disputed 2008 elections.

While the deal succeeded in halting the economy's tailspin, mainly by ditching the local currency, the rivals have repeatedly locked horns over implementing it.

Both leaders have said they are ready for elections that would end the transitional government.