Zimbabwe Service Chiefs will accept election results: Biti

Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says it has reached an agreement with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party to dilute the powers of Zimbabwe's army and state security chiefs.

President Jacob Zuma is expected to report back at this week's Southern African Development Community summit as regional leaders step up efforts to bring the impasse in Zimbabwe to an end.

The SADC summit is expected to discuss how a free and fair election can be achieved.

Zimbabwe's army and security chiefs are blamed for holding up progress in Zimbabwe's path to recovery. Some, including Tsvangirai, suggest that the army is running the country behind the scenes.

The country has been run by a coalition government since disputed presidential polls in 2008.

MDC secretary-general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti said last week that a breakthrough was made on security reforms after Zanu-PF negotiators, led by Patrick Chinamasa, relented on their hold on the army and other security services.

"We demand that our service chiefs abide by the laws of Zimbabwe and there has been an agreement on the issue of service chiefs, but I cannot comment on the matter before we go to the summit," said Biti.

The MDC reportedly forced through a clause to the effect that service and army chiefs must accept the outcome of the next election.

SADC-brokered talks between parties led by Mugabe and Tsvangirai and appointed Zuma as mediator.

Mugabe has fallen out of favour with other SADC leaders, most of whom are opposed to early elections this year.

"The MDC will call on the SADC to help end all-state sponsored violence in Zimbabwe. It is this that poses the greatest threat to peace and tranquility in Zimbabwe," Biti said.