Zimbabwe's next presidential and parliamentary elections would normally be held in 2013, but Tsvangirai said earlier this month that parliamentary elections could not be held until there had been a referendum on a new constitution and an election commission had been set up.

"The next election should be solely for the disputed presidential election of 2008," Tsvangirai told reporters after a meeting of his party's top decision-making national council.

Major vote

"So there is no need to go for harmonised elections when we have not resolved the disputed presidential election first."

Tsvangirai spoke as Zanu-PF prepared for its annual congress in the eastern city of Mutare that will endorse Mugabe, 86, as its candidate in the election he wants to be held by mid-year.

Zanu-PF and MDC legislators are against elections that will cut short their five-year term for a second time. The previous term ended prematurely in 2008 following a 2005 vote.

The next election will be the eighth major vote in Zimbabwe since 2000 and critics say rushed polls without political reforms, including a new constitution guaranteeing basic rights, would favour Mugabe and Zanu-PF, who have held power since independence from Britain in 1980.