This he has done, repeatedly, demanding new elections first in 2010, then in 2011 and now before the end of this year, whether or not electoral reforms and a new constitution are in place by then, as required under the power-sharing pact, drawn up in 2008 under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a 15-member regional club, following the MDC's victory in the polls earlier that year.

ECONOMIST: Politics in Zimbabwe

The 15-country Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has been trying to break the impasse, does not carry much weight with either side.

ECONOMIST: Zimbabwe asks for help as hundreds die from cholera

If it cannot, the disputes are to be referred first to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a 15-member regional group which, after months of deadlock, succeeded in ramming the deal through on January 28th.

ECONOMIST: Zimbabwe

Later, an observer team from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) was held for some 45 minutes by Zanu-PF supporters at a farm about 20km (13 miles) outside Karoi.

BBC: Reporters gauge Zimbabwe mood