BuaNews (Tshwane)
Shaun Benton
23 August 2007
Cape Town — The South African government "categorically rejects" allegations that President Thabo Mbeki blamed the British government for Zimbabwe's problems, said Themba Maseko, government spokesperson.
Briefing reporters on Thursday following Cabinet's meeting in Cape Town held on Wednesday, Mr Maseko said it was "simply not true" that Britain, the former colonial power of Zimbabwe, had been blamed for the political problems faced by South Africa's troubled northern neighbour.
President Mbeki was appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a mediator to facilitate dialogue between opposing groups in Zimbabwe in order to bring about free and fair elections there. "Cabinet noted that President Mbeki's report on facilitating the Zimbabwean talks was well received by the summit [an SADC Heads of State summit held in Lusaka, Zambia, last week]. "The report indicated that the facilitated talks between the government of Zimbabwe and the opposition were on track and the talks will deliver an agreement that will lay a foundation for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe," Mr Maseko said.
He added that Cabinet, at its latest meeting, reaffirmed the South African government's position that the solution to the problems of Zimbabwe will come from the Zimbabwean people. Mr Maseko said Cabinet denied reports of disunity among the region's SADC leaders on the way forward for the country. "The Heads of State of the SADC region are united in their resolve to do what is necessary to help Zimbabweans to find a lasting solution to the socio-economic and political problems," he said. Mr Maseko added that no solution would be imposed on Zimbabwe by outside forces or influences.
President Mbeki's report on Zimbabwe was accepted by the SADC summit, which resolved that the finance ministers of the 14-nation bloc are to conduct a detailed assessment of economic conditions in the country.
This is in addition to further talks facilitated by South Africa's president.
The finance ministers, who would include South Africa's Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, would seek to identify "any possible action required regarding the economic recovery in Zimbabwe".
Meanwhile, Cabinet also took note of a number of partnership and cooperation agreements signed during the South Africa-Democratic Republic of Congo Bi-national Commission that took place in Kinshasa from 20 to 21 August.
The signed agreements covered a number of areas ranging from education, health, governance, transport, finance, trade and security-cluster related matters. Cabinet noted that the relationship between the two countries was solidifying for the benefit of both countries and the region.
The newly-elected president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila visited South Africa on a historic state visit in June, during which he thanked South Africa for investing much effort and resources towards securing peace and democracy in the country. During his visit, President Kabila made a number of remarks encouraging South African companies to examine business prospects in his mineral-rich nation.
In another development, Mr Maseko announced a massive campaign to drastically reduce illiteracy in South Africa.At the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, an operational plan was approved for a national mass literacy campaign.
Eighty thousand tutors will be engaged across the country in a push to get almost five million illiterate South Africans to a level of basic literacy and numeracy.
The aim of the campaign is to ensure there are 4.7 million literate and numerate people by 2012, at a cost of R6.1 billion in additional funds for education.An inter-ministerial committee to be chaired by the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, is to oversee the project, which will be launched shortly.
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