ZIMBABWE'S unity government collapsed yesterday after prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai pulled his ministers out of cabinet.
Plunging Zimbabwe into fresh crisis, Mr Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party was suspending all co-operation with president Robert Mugabe, calling him a "dishonest and unreliable partner".
"We shall forthwith disengage fr
om Zanu-PF and, in particular, from cabinet and the council of ministers until confidence and respect is restored," Mr Tsvangirai told reporters in Harare.
The move was in part provoked by the jailing on Wednesday of white former MP Roy Bennett, the MDC's treasurer, on flimsy terrorism charges.
Hours after Mr Tsvangirai announced the MDC's disengagement, Mr Bennett was granted bail by a high court judge in Harare. State prosecutors tried unsuccessfully to oppose the order.
A top aide of Mr Tsvangirai said Mr Bennett's release "would not change a thing".
"We need all issues resolved," the aide said. "The persecution continues."
Mr Bennett, a former coffee farmer, will still have to stand trial next week on highly-controversial charges that date back to an alleged coup plot in 2006.
Political prosecutions were supposed to end under a power-sharing deal signed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai more than a year ago.
The MDC believes Mr Bennett is being targeted to stop him being sworn in as deputy agriculture minister.
Yesterday Mr Tsvangirai spoke openly of his frustration with Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
"We have papered over the cracks and sought to persuade the whole world in the last eight months that everything is working," he said.
"The truth of the matter is that it is our movement that won the election of 29 March, 2008.
"It is now time for us to assert and take our position as the dominant party in Zimbabwe," he added, while insisting that the move did not equate to a total pull-out from government.
However, analysts warned that the move could lead to the setting up of two separate governments.
University of Zimbabwe political scientist John Makumbe said: "I would not be surprised if Mugabe proceeds to appoint Zanu-PF ministers to replace the MDC ministers.
"Mugabe will use the security forces to stop MDC ministers and functionaries from working in the government," Dr Makumbe added, describing Mr Tsvangirai's decision as "desperate".
Mr Tsvangirai complained that Zimbabwe's laws were being selectively applied to persecute MDC officials. Seven MDC MPs have been convicted on controversial charges in recent months.
There was no immediate reaction from Mr Mugabe to Mr Tsvangirai's announcement.
Zanu-PF spokesman Ephraim Masawi said: "If MDC wants to disengage we don't have a problem with that.
"We were having problems with MDC, working together."
