Hopes for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe dimmed yesterday as police unleashed a new crackdown on the Opposition, and news emerged that Robert Mugabe was to boycott today’s emergency summit in Zambia.

Zimbabwe’s northern neighbour called the extraordinary meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, in an attempt to put pressure on Mr Mugabe over the unreleased results from last month’s election. .

The call followed an intense diplomatic tour by the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai during which he appealed to southern African leaders to drop their policy of appeasement and hold Mr Mugabe to account.

The summit was to be the first show-down between Mr Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Mr Mugabe, whose security officials have beaten and imprisoned him several times during the past decade. Yesterday, however, the Government announced that Mr Mugabe would not attend the summit but would be represented by three ministers. The news has heightened suspicions that he is no longer in control of the country and is being kept in power only by the military.

Mr Mugabe, 84, is said to have privately conceded defeat a week ago and tried to leave the country, but senior generals refused to allow him to go, fearful that without him they would be removed and exposed to prosecution.

The news came as Zimbabwean police banned all political rallies, accusing the MDC of “spoiling for a fight”, and announced the deployment of hundreds of youth members across the country. The MDC had scheduled a mass rally for tomorrow and called for a general strike to protest at the election deadlock. “We call upon transporters, workers, vendors and everyone to stay at home. The power is in our hands,” a pamphlet read.

“Zimbabweans have been taken for granted for too long. We demand that the presidential election results be announced now.”

Reports from around the country indicate a concerted campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition party workers, supporters and election observers. Violent invasions of white-owned farms by so-called war veterans and youth militia have been launched to simulate a “popular uprising” in favour of land redistribution.

The Government says that it is preparing for a run-off between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, but the MDC has said it will not take part, arguing that it has already won power.

Yesterday Mr Tsvangirai issued a fresh call for Mr Mugabe to step down before the summit. The opposition leader was speaking from South Africa, where he was finally granted a meeting with President Mbeki, who had enraged Western powers and opposition Zimbabweans with his refusal to condemn Mr Mugabe, who is still seen in much of Africa as a black liberation hero.

“He should recognise that he has lost and let me get on with making our great country great once more,” Mr Tsvangirai said. “We can show the world that we, Africa, can solve our own problems and safeguard democracy and the rule of law.”

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