Johannesburg  - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, whose supporters are awaiting his return to his troubled country after more than a month's absence, was thousands of miles away in Northern Ireland Friday.

Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe confirmed that the MDC leader, who topped the poll in March 29 presidential elections, was in Belfast to address a meeting of liberal democratic politicians from around the world.

Sibotshiwe, who also travelled to Belfast, said Tsvangirai was particularly keen to meet with African leaders attending the conference, including Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

Asked if the 56-year-old former labour leader would be returning to Zimbabwe as scheduled this weekend, Sibotshiwe said, "Yes, we're still going, either Saturday evening or Sunday morning."

On Sunday, Tsvangirai would address the MDC's parliamentary caucus in Harare before later travelling to Bulawayo for a party rally, Sibotshiwe said.

Tsvangirai left Zimbabwe over a month ago amid fears for his safety in the wake of his party's defeat of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party in the March elections.

In the presidential poll Tsvangirai took 47.9 per cent of votes to Mugabe's 43.2 per cent, below the 50-per-cent-plus threshold for an outright victory.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was due Friday to announce the date for a second round of voting between the two candidates. (dpa)