The detention of 15 Movement for Democratic Change youths is illegal and poses a “major threat” to the party’s negotiations with ZANU PF, the MDC said.

“The MDC believes that Zanu-PF’s latest act of insincerity is a major threat to the dialogue process,” MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said in an e-mailed statement today.

The 15 MDC activists have been held for 27 days without access to their lawyers or family, Chamisa said.

“The MDC, through its lawyers, have made it clear to the attorney general’s office that the continued illegal detention of the MDC activists is a clear violation of the Global Political Agreement signed in Harare on Sept. 15 and the party will call for the intervention of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, the guarantors of that agreement,” said Chamisa.

Meanwhile, MDC negotiators, led by Secretary-General Tendai Biti, traveled to South Africa today to restart talks with Zanu- PF. The talks will be brokered by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, whom the MDC would like removed as facilitator.

The MDC has resolved that it will not join an inclusive government with Zanu-PF “until all the sticking issues are resolved,” Chamisa added.