Mr Tsvangirai told journalists the 86-year-old leader was eager to shake his reputation as a destructive tyrant. "You must understand this man has got a split personality, from being a hero to being the villain the international community would like to define him as.

"If I was in the same position, would I like to go down as a villain? If there's an opportunity to rescue my reputation and legacy, I would go for that.

"I think Robert Mugabe genuinely believes he has left Zimbabweans at least talking across the political divide and he is committed to a peaceful Zimbabwe."

Mr Tsvangirai said he had no interest in punishing Mr Mugabe for Zimbabwe's decline. "Robert Mugabe has been portrayed as a demon but he himself made a contribution to that character and I cannot defend what he did over the last 10 years in terms of violence," he said.

"But there is also a positive contribution to our country that he made. He was a national liberation leader."