Tsvangirai agrees to return, face Mugabe in runoff

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Zimbabwe’s top opposition leader yesterday said he will take part in a presidential runoff against longtime leader Robert Mugabe and soon will return to the country.

Morgan Tsvangirai said his supporters would feel “betrayed” if he did not face Mr. Mugabe in the runoff. Mr. Tsvangirai had said previously he won the first round outright and that official figures showing a second round was necessary were fraudulent.

“I am ready, the people are ready,” he told reporters in the capital of neighboring South Africa.

“I intend to return as shortly as possible and intend to begin a victory tour,” he said, adding that he expected to return within two days. Aides later said no exact date had been set.

Opposition officials and independent human rights activists have accused Mr. Mugabe of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round on March 29. Mr. Tsvangirai and other top opposition figures have stayed out of Zimbabwe since the initial voting.

“If this is going to be a successful runoff, opposition leaders and supporters must be able to freely campaign free of violence,” said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council. “We would like to see election monitors — U.N. human rights monitors to ensure we have a safe electoral process there.”

Mr. Mugabe’s ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union ” Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), meanwhile, already has launched its runoff campaign. Observers inside and outside Zimbabwe have questioned whether a second round could be free and fair with the opposition unable to campaign freely because of attacks and threats.

Supporters of Mr. Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were skeptical about their chances.

“How are we going to campaign in the runoff as MDC supporters?” said Tapiwa Mudiwa, 26. “We can’t wear MDC T-shirts. We fear we can’t even go for rallies. Cars are being burned.”

In Pretoria, Mr. Tsvangirai acknowledged the risks, but said his consultations with a wide range of Zimbabweans had convinced him they wanted him to run.

No runoff date has been set. Mr. Tsvangirai said it should be held within 21 days of the May 2 announcement of presidential results, but Zimbabwean government officials have said the electoral commission has up to a year to hold the vote.