HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said President Robert Mugabe  is lying that principals have agreed to only get MDC governors sworn in only after western sanctions are removed.

Mugabe told his Zanu-PF party's central committee in the capital Harare last week that Prime Minister Tsvangirai must call for the removal of a western travel ban and asset freeze on the 86-year-old leader and his inner circle, only then can five MDC governors be sworn in in line with agreements in the global political agreement.
Tsvangirai told party supporters at the launch of a new MDC card Friday that the principals in the GNU had agreed to a formula for the allocation of the governors based on the results of the election. "It is for this reason that the MDC was awarded five governors as a reflection of our mandate from the people," Tsvangirai said.

The five MDC nominees for the gubernatorial posts are Senator James Makore for Harare Metropolitan province, Seiso Moyo for Bulawayo Metropolitan province, Lucia Matibenga (Masvingo), Tose Sansole (Matebeleland North) and Julius Magarangoma (Manicaland). Mutambara is yet to reveal his partys choice for governor. Tsvangirai said: "To then artificially link the allocation of governors to the issue of restrictive measures is a blatant attempt to undermine the GPA, the inclusive government and the will of the people.

"Similarly, desperate calls to link future elections to the issue of restrictive measures is another attempt to avoid the commitments in the GPA which determines the framework for such elections. This is in line with SADC's recent resolution to produce a definitive roadmap to these elections as a clear exit strategy to the Zimbabwe crisis."
Both the European Union and the United States maintain a travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe, his wife and inner circle in protest at a series of disputed elections since 2002 and alleged human rights abuses by his government.

The unity deal was signed nearly two years ago, but the feuding parties are still battling over a series of top political posts.
Mugabe told his central committee last week: "They have to get those sanctions off if they want any concessions from us. There are no more concessions. We will never ever move," he said.

By Staff reporter and agencies