Two years after agreeing to form a unity government, Zimbabwe's rival political leaders are hinting at new elections for next year, despite doubts that the country is ready for polls.
Many Zimbabweans cringe at the idea of more elections, with painful memories of the 2008 presidential race, which was scarred by deadly political violence when it appeared that Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition MDC-T, could unseat President Robert Mugabe.
The rivals were eventually pressured into a unity government with Tsvangirai as prime minister, but the agreement, signed on September 15 2008, was meant as an interim arrangement to pave the way for new polls.
Tsvangirai told party supporters at the weekend that he and Mugabe had agreed that there should be elections next year.
"When I last saw President Mugabe he said the prevailing peace was ideal for us to go for an election, and this time we agreed that whoever loses should make way for the winner," he said, according to The Standard newspaper.
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