Mugabe, Mswati not welcome

"We demand freedom and democracy for citizens of both countries...today and not tomorrow," said Vavi during his opening address at the Zimbabwe and Swaziland Solidarity Conference.

Vavi said they would fight until the last drop of blood to free people, not only from the bondage of oppression and repression, but from the clutches of poverty.

He said the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe scaled to new heights, and continued as though the current negotiations meant nothing to the Mugabe regime.

Wishing President Thabo Mbeki and all other parties involved in the negotiations good luck and success, Vavi said he would not give them unconditional support because any settlement that does not recognise the will of the people as expressed in the March 29 elections, will not be acceptable.

President Thabo Mbeki held talks with Zimbabwe's political rivals on Sunday, as they edged closer to a power-sharing deal following Robert Mugabe's widely condemned re-election.

Referring to rumours of a settlement, Vavi said: "We shall accordingly continue to pile (on) pressure until a settlement is reached that is based on our demands."

He reiterating the views of countries like Botswana, saying Mugabe should not be invited in the SADC heads of state summit to be held in SA on August 15-17, because he was not recognised as a legitimate president.

Vavi called on all Cosatu members and civil society formations in Gauteng to join a march to be organised for August 16. This was to show "disgust" at Mugabe's presence.

"We want a total isolation of Mugabe and his cronies."

Vavi said King Mswati was not welcome in the country.

"He is not a head of state. There has never been any democratic election in Swaziland where he was elected...We are angry that SADC and all others continue to embrace this fraud."

- Sapa