MDC urges SA to cut power, fuel supplies

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has urged the South African government to cut off electricity and fuel supplies to Zimbabwe to force President Robert Mugabe to respect the rule of law. MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube and the party's secretary for land Tendai Biti made the call at a conference on the Zimbabwean crisis organised by the South African Institute for International Affairs in Johannesburg.

Biti said South Africa was secretly keeping Zimbabwe afloat by continuing to supply it with fuel and electricity, even though it could not afford to pay. Ncube said since South Africa was supplying much of Zimbabwe's fuel and electricity, it should threaten to cut these off unless Mugabe respects the rule of law, ended his interference with the judiciary's independence and allowed unfettered political freedom.

Biti and Ncube said South Africa possessed "a unique capacity" to deliver change in Zimbabwe because of Zimbabwe's heavy dependence on the neighbouring country.