World | Robert Mugabe Tsvangirai: Africa, UN Must Broker Deal Seeks 'transitional period;' willing to negotiate before vote By Kevin Spak Posted Jun 25, 2008 9:02 AM CDT Copied Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition party in Zimbabwe gestures at a press conference in Harare, Sunday, June, 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Morgan Tsvangirai is calling for a “negotiated political settlement” to begin a period of “healing” for Zimbabwe, the BBC reports. Speaking at his home after leaving the Dutch embassy, the opposition leader called Friday’s election a sham, and asked the African Union and Southern African Development Community to lead a UN-backed “transitional period.” While Tsvangirai said he would be willing to negotiate with Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF, he said the MDC would “not have anything to do” with the government emerging from Friday’s vote. He also demanded the release of MDC deputy Tendai Biti, who is charged with treason. Read These Next Matt Damon on being 'canceled': It 'just never ends.' Spanberger becomes Virginia's first female governor. An NFL team owner just became the biggest private landowner in the US. Indeed ranks the best US jobs for 2026. Report an error