Botswana's Mogae urges MDC to call-off boycott

Botswana's Mogae urges MDC to call-off boycott

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai

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By Agencies

BOTSWANA President Festus Mogae has expressed the hope that Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would continue participating in the electoral process.

Speaking during a meeting with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangarai on Friday, Mogae said political differences should be resolved through dialogue and compromise.

Present during the meeting was foreign affairs and international cooperation minister Mompati Merafhe, presidential affairs and public administration minister Phandu Skelemani and senior government officials.

MDC Secretary General Professor Welshman Ncube, who is also an MP and the MDC National Co-ordinator, Isaac Maposa, accompanied Tsvangarai.

Tsvangarai embarked on what has been termed a diplomatic initiative accross Africa soon after being declared of treason charges last month.

Other southern African leaders he has already met include South Africa's Thabo Mbeki and Mauritius' Paul Berenger. Tsvangirai's delegation has also been to Ghana, Senegal and had the red carpet laid out for them in Nigeria where they met President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The MDC leader is on a mission to lobby southern African leaders to pressurise the Zimbabwean government into postponing parliamentary elections set for March 2005.

Tsvangarai's is woes are far from over since the state is appealing against his acquittal. He is facing other charges linked to the 2003 anti-government protests. BOPA
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