The Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai refused today to rule out talking to members of Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF about a future without the veteran president.

But, in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) denied media reports that he had met Zanu-PF members within the last couple of days to discuss Mr Mugabe's succession.

Asked if there was a chance that this kind of arrangement might work in future, he said: “We have always called on all patriotic Zimbabweans who want to see a solution about Mugabe coming together.

“We have always put on the table the roadmap as the only viable route to the resolution of the political crisis. I’m sure that there is national convergence on such a roadmap being worked out between some of the ruling party members and the MDC."

He added: “I foresee a situation in which those who are looking towards the future within Zanu-PF see a future without Mugabe so it converges with our opinion that Mugabe has become the stumbling block."

Mr Tsvangirai was badly beaten earlier this month, along with other opposition activists, after being arrested at a 'prayer rally' on the outskirts of Harare.

Mr Mugabe has indicated that presidential elections will take place next year and his rival said that Zanu-PF was “anxious to get him aside so they can get another candidate”.

“I do not think that, given the fact that he has already announced that there will be elections next year, that he himself will play a part in that election,” Mr Tsvangirai added.

Nor did he think that Mr Mugabe should not face punishment if he were ousted from office, speaking instead of an “honourable exit” for the veteran politician.

“We would be happy to put him aside and get the country moving forward without him and concentrate on the job at hand,” he said.

Mr Tsvangirai also said that Britain should focus its pressure through international institutions such as the European Union and United Nations rather than taking unilateral action and called for a "much more robust policy initiative towards Zimbabwe” from South Africa.

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