The former opposition Movement for Democratic Change formation of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for demonstrations in South Africa on Friday urging Pretoria to intervene decisively and resolve Harare's enduring crisis.
The protests were scheduled to begin in Pretoria itself and include a march to the offices of President Jacob Zuma, mediator in the perennial Harare political crisis for the Southern African Development Community.
The protests will target South African embassies and consulates around the world where Zimbabweans have been urged to converge Saturday. The Tsvangirai MDC formation will petition Pretoria to press for broad reform in Harare before new elections.
The party is also urging the Harare government to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to cast postal ballots and permit dual citizenship under a new constitution being drafted.
"By virtue of being Zimbabwe's neighbor, and considering the number of Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa, it is common-sensical that South Africa has a strong national interest in finding a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean crisis," the MDC said.
Den Moyo, chairman of the MDC in the United States, told Ntungamili Nkomo that thousands of Zimbabweans in various countries had signed on to the protests.
