Ncube, Biti meet top Danish ministers

Ncube, Biti meet top Danish ministers

BITI and Ncube

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By Staff Reporter

TWO senior officials of Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Tuesday held meetings with top Danish ministers over the developing crisis in the southern African country.

Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti, the two secretary generals of the fractious opposition party met with Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller and Minister for Development Aid Ulla Toernaes, the Danish government said.

"The present situation is very worrying," the Danish foreign ministry statement said, recalling that peaceful protests organised by the party in March "ended with arrests and the brutal treatment of opposition leaders."

Zimbabwe's once model economy has been on a downward spiral for the last seven years, characterised by runaway inflation -- the highest in the world -- and perennial shortages of basic commodities.

Exacerbating the situation is the state's increasing crackdown on all opposition to the rule of President Robert Mugabe, in power since the country's independence from Britain in 1980.

Western countries have imposed sanctions on Mugabe and his coterie and have accused him of stifling democracy and human rights in his now impoverished country.

Denmark, which has been trenchantly critical of Mugabe's rule will "continue to back democratic forces in Zimbabwe working to ensure fundamental human rights, press freedom and democratic development," the foreign ministry said.

There was no official reaction from the MDC on what was discussed, but Ncube and Biti have been leading the MDC's effort at assisting South African President Thabo Mbeki's fresh mediation mission to bring Mugabe to the negotiating table ahead of key parliamentary, presidential and local government elections next year.

The MDC split into two factions in October 2005 and until recently, there has been little contact or joint political activity. President Mbeki's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe have brought the factions closer together, with a growing likelihood that the two groups will field a single candidate in presidential elections next year, say officials.
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