Zimbabwean dissident urges world to lean on 'stubborn' Mugabe

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Calling Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe a "megalomaniac," a leading Zimbabwean dissident says international and regional pressure must be used to resolve an economic disaster in the African nation.

"My message is: Let them put pressure on Mugabe to settle this crisis because the ball is in his court," said Pius Ncube, archbishop of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, and a critic of Mugabe.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Johannesburg, in neighboring South Africa, Ncube said that Mugabe could work out differences with the political opposition and fight to improve the country's dire economic conditions -- if he really wanted to.

"It's just that he's too stubborn and too proud to listen, but he knows very well that the people are longing for a settlement because life has become almost impossible in Zimbabwe," Ncube said.

Mugabe has been Zimbabwe's only ruler since it achieved independence from Britain 27 years ago. Under his rule, the once-prosperous country has suffered an economic crisis, with routine shortages of food, electricity and foreign currency.

Inflation has surged to 4,500 percent -- the highest in the world, according to the government. Estimates from independent financial institutions put the actual number at about double that amount, the Associated Press reports. About 80 percent of Zimbabweans are unemployed by some estimates.

The crisis deepened in recent weeks when a government order to cut prices in half sent people rushing to the stores. There was panic buying in the capital, leaving store shelves empty.

Some stores closed after running out of stock, and police have arrested shopkeepers for charging more than the official prices. An economist tells the Associated Press normal business activity could come to a stop in just a matter of days as food and gas shortages worsen. Watch Zimbabwe on the verge of collapse »

Members of the political opposition movement say they have been beaten and abused, and citizens talk of human rights abuses. Ncube urges citizens to muster the will to counter the situation.

"I refuse to be afraid," he said.

The cleric supports the mediation efforts of the Southern African Development Community, being led by South African President Thabo Mbeki, to settle the political crisis there. And he supports the West's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the people.

At the same time, he says, African leaders have not been tough enough with Mugabe -- "dilly-dallying" instead of making him accountable.

Making reference to targeted international sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, Ncube says Mugabe incorrectly characterizes them as the cause of the country's economic problems.

"The whole problem here is this: that Mugabe is not truthful. He is a big liar and keeps saying that we are suffering because of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. They're only targeted sanctions against Mugabe," Ncube said.

He described Mugabe as a man who "can't live without power." He said citizens throughout Zimbabwe, including the military, are dissatisfied and the conditions are "ripe" for a "nonviolent popular uprising."

Elections are scheduled for March 2008, and Mugabe has indicated he intends to run again. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Isha Sesay contributed to this report.

Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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