Zimbabwe opposition leader Tsvangirai to go

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday he would return home on Saturday ahead of an election run-off against President Robert Mugabe.Tsvangirai made the announcement to cheers from Zimbabwean refugees sheltering at a police station in Johannesburg after deadly xenophobic attacks. He said he would work to end political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe that has caused millions to flee abroad.Tsvangirai postponed his planned return to Zimbabwe last week after his Movement for Democratic Change party said it had uncovered a plot to assassinate him. He left Zimbabwe on April 8 to build support for his bid to end Mugabe's 28-year rule.Tsvangirai won the March 29 presidential poll but not with a big enough margin to avoid a second ballot. That vote is set for June 27.A spokesman said there were concerns about Tsvangirai's security in Zimbabwe but added that they would not stop the MDC leader from returning this time."At a certain point you've got to take a risk," spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.The MDC has scheduled two rallies over the weekend in Zimbabwe but has not confirmed Tsvangirai's attendance.Zimbabweans hope the June poll will help end political and economic turmoil, which has led to 165,000 percent inflation, 80 percent unemployment, chronic food and fuel shortages and sent a flood of refugees to neighbouring countries.Tsvangirai blamed the crisis for forcing many Zimbabweans to move to South Africa and other countries in search of work."The cause of this crisis is none other than our political situation back home," Tsvangirai, standing on a wooden table and occasionally pumping his fist in the air, told the refugees in the police station's car park.Alexandra township was the flashpoint for the anti-foreigner attacks that have killed at least 42 people and prompted more than 15,000 African migrants to seek shelter in churches, police stations and community centres.An estimated three million Zimbabweans live in South Africa, but their presence in South Africa has prompted a backlash from poor shantytown dwellers, who accuse them of stealing jobs and fuelling crime.Tsvangirai said the MDC would try to arrange transport for Zimbabweans who want to return to their country. (Reporting by Paul Simao in Johannesburg; Writing by Marius Bosch; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)