African Union (Addis Ababa)
2 July 2008
document
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt — The African Union Assembly, meeting in its 11th Ordinary Session held on June 30 to July 1, 2008 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt,
DEEPLY CONCERNED with the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe;
DEEPLY CONCERNED with the negative reports of SADC, the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament observers on the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off election held on June 27, 2008;
DEEPLY CONCERNED about the violence and the loss of life that has occurred in Zimbabwe.
CONSIDERING the urgent need to prevent further worsening of the situation and with a view to avoid spread of conflict with the consequential negative impact on the country and the sub-region;
FURTHER CONSIDERING the need to create an environment conducive for democracy, as well as the development of the people of Zimbabwe;
EXPRESSING its appreciation to SADC, and its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, as well as the Facilitator of the intra-Zimbabwe dialogue, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, and His Excellency Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the ongoing work aimed at reconciling the political parties;
RECOGNISING the complexity of the situation in Zimbabwe;
NOTING the willingness of the political leaders of Zimbabwe to enter into negotiations to establish a Government of National Unity;
NOTING FURTHER the preparatory discussions on this matter had already started, under SADC facilitation;
Hereby decide:
1. TO ENCOURAGE President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the MDC Party Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability, democracy and the reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people;
2. TO SUPPORT the call, for the creation of a Government of National Unity;
3. TO SUPPORT the SADC Facilitation, and to recommend that SADC mediation efforts should be continued in order to resolve the problems they are facing. In this regard SADC should establish a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution;
4. TO APPEAL to states and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue;
5. In the spirit of all SADC initiatives, the AU remains convinced that the people of Zimbabwe will be able to resolve their differences and work together once again as one Nation, provided they receive undivided support from SADC, the AU and the world at large.
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It does appear that the countries that are in a position to make a difference are soft-lining it. It may be their point of view that taking such an approach would result in less violence now and in the future, and the old man may die soon anyway. I'm all for less violence, but to have their heads in the sand about the the crimes that have already taken place and will no doubt continue, committed by Mugabe and other autocratic regimes that bear no accountability, is to be complicit in these crimes against humanity. They could have just arrested… [Read Full Text]
MBEKE FIDDLES WHILE ZIMBABWE BURNS Mbeke is the biggest obstacle to peace in Zimbabwe. He has betrayed the people of Zimbabwe more than any other African leader. He has also presided over the steady decline of law and order, and social fabric in South Africa. Mugabe cannot survive without South African help via Mebeke. This immoral wimp must be removed by ANY means, be it ballot, general strike or other means. He is totaly unfit to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela. He is a disgrace to Africa.
First things first. Cde Thabo Vuelwa Mbeki is an elected South African president. For him to be nominated for mediation in Zimbabwe does not mean He holds the power to make Zimbabwean problems go away. You go on blaming him for things He cannot change on his own. If MDC-T or M say they wish not to hold talks with the elected government of the day, who can force them? if Father Mugabe is not the president of Zimbabwe like they say, so why put all the scorn on him for all the problems?
These resolutions do not address our real problem in Zimbabwe and the region as a whole! 1)What we people of Zimbabwe need is change of the president and the incumbent government. 2)We appreciate what father Mugabe did for us to gain independence from the whites! For sometime we maintained our status as the bread basket of africa. 3)Father Mugabe should step down and pave way for democratic elections for the sake of his children and children's children.Zimbabwe is our only country and does it make father Mugabe happy when we starve to death? A good father will not do that… [Read Full Text]
It's an undisputable fact that the situation in Zimbabwe is serious. When South Africa had its own problems a few years ago,despite the negotiations being difficult, South Africans knew that they had to press on in making sure that the 'talks' yield positive results.
Zimbabwean leadership need to press on and find solutions though dialogue.
That was a hapless, weak and useless resolution. AU leaders are buying time for Mugabe. Why are AU leaders so afraid of this Old man, Mugabe. Why have they thrown the issue back to SADC and Mbeki who failed dismally for the past eight years? Why did they not take a position on the sham election? Why did they allow a controversially elected president to attend the summit? Why do the AU leaders pretend that they did not learn Mugabe from his past actions? Apparently the AU resolution was written by President Mbeki as it takes his line on the… [Read Full Text]