Cape Town — The Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town has called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to find ways of opening new negotiations to end the political stalemate in Zimbabwe.

"We acknowledge and give thanks for what the SADC mediation process has delivered so far. However, it needs now to be expanded, and I urge SADC to establish mechanisms on the ground in Zimbabwe to bring about a climate free of political violence," Archbishop Makgoba said.

The Anglican primate praised the African Union's (AU) resolution calling for negotiations to settle Zimbabwe's political crisis, saying it was the first step towards fulfilling the AU's potential to work for an Africa without conflict.

But a political settlement could only be achieved if Zimbabwe's ruling party ZANU -PF recognised the legitimacy of its political opponents. "Both parties have to be genuinely willing to address one another's fears and aspirations. If the talks are to succeed, ZANU-PF needs to recognise the legitimacy of the MDC."

State terror must stop, as talks will go nowhere if Zimbabweans continued to live in terror of being attacked and killed for not having red ink on their fingers, the archbishop noted.