PM: I will confront Mugabe

Authoritative government sources said Tsvangirai would use the regular Monday meeting between the two men to demand action on the issues affecting the shaky coalition, as well as the 75,000 ghost workers allegedly milking the cash-strapped fiscus.

Tsvangirai has in the past week accused Mugabe of being complicit in the campaign of violence and intimidation being waged by soldiers and Zanu (PF) militias against thousands of hapless civilians throughout Zimbabwe. He said the veteran leader was aware of the security forces resistance to the unity government, and the MDC holds Mugabe responsible for the forces relentless effort to block democratic reform.

Tsvangirai said Mugabe, who is supreme commander of the armed forces and appoints the countrys police, secret and prison service chiefs, was well aware of the militarys role in the violence. Police and army commanders deny that their men have either aided or committed violence and have instead accused the MDC of fomenting the political disturbances.

The two leaders are also expected to find a solution to the issue of civil Servants salaries after Mugabe promised to use proceeds from diamond sales to award government workers salary increases.

The sources accused Mugabe of cheap public posturing about the issue when he knows very well that there was no money to pay them. Zanu (PF) and the MDC-T are embroiled in a bitter role over cash from diamond sales from Marange, which Mugabe has said is available to pay civil servants but Finance Minister Tendai Biti says the money is yet to reach treasury.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai has threatened to boycott presidential and parliamentary elections if Mugabe insists on setting a date unilaterally. “If Mugabe proceeds to announce an election without my agreement, that will be a unilateral action and we as MDC will not be party to that,” Tsvangirai said.

He told visiting German businessmen that he expected Zimbabweans to vote in a referendum on a new constitution by September. “Once the constitutional-making process is complete and a referendum is held, Mugabe and I will sit down and decide on the election date,” Tsvangirai said. An MDC boycott would destroy the credibility of any election held. Most governments around the world would find it difficult to recognize a leader emerging from such an election, and a political impasse would undoubtedly result.