The African National Congress (ANC) is "dismayed" by Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF government which it says is "riding "roughshod" over hard-won democratic rights.

"The right to govern themselves and regularly to choose their own government was earned through sacrifices and struggles often eliciting the loss of life," the ANC said in a statement on Tuesday.

"No one, no government, no political party, no political leader has the right to abridge or subvert these rights."

The ANC said it could not be indifferent to the "flagrant violation" of every principle of democratic governance.

"We are, consequently, deeply dismayed by the actions of the government of Zimbabwe which is riding roughshod over the hard-won democratic rights of the people of that country."

The party concluded that free and fair elections were not possible in Zimbabwe and that a negotiated settlement was the answer to the country's woes. The solution to the crisis lay in "dialogue in earnest" between all the political players in Zimbabwe.

"The ugly incidents and scenes that have been visited on the people of Zimbabwe persuade us that a run-off presidential election offers no solution to Zimbabwe's crisis. In a society that is already highly polarised, a run-off election will only serve to widen the divisions."

The legitimacy of the run-off had been severely compromised by the actions of both Zanu-PF militants and state officials who did not conceal their bias towards the governing party.

"Compelling evidence of violence, intimidation and outright terror; the studied harassment of the leadership of the MDC, including its presidential candidate, by the security organs of the Zimbabwean government; the arrest and detention of the secretary general of the MDC; the banning of MDC public meetings; and denial of access to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation - have all convinced us that free and fair elections are not possible in the political environment prevalent in Zimbabwe today.

"We have noted, with grave concern, the statements of the Zimbabwean government to the effect that the run-off elections will proceed as planned," the ANC said. - Sapa