HARARE, May 24: Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrived home on Saturday after a six-week absence vowing to end the near three-decade rule of President Robert Mugabe in next month’s election.

Despite fears of an assassination plot and the threat of treason charges, Tsvangirai returned home looking relaxed and launched into a blistering attack on Mugabe ahead of a June 27 presidential run-off between the two men.

“As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, Mugabe will not win in the second round,” he told reporters in his first press conference since returning from South Africa.

Tsvangirai also rejected the idea of a coalition government with Mugabe, which some have suggested would allow the 84-year-old Mugabe a graceful exit and prevent further violence.

“There is no government of national unity on the table,” he said. “There has been so much speculation but I don’t see how that is going to be implemented.” Tsvangirai had been abroad since shortly after a first round of elections on March 29, lobbying regional leaders to pressure President Robert Mugabe to allow free and fair elections.—AFP