2 July 2008
Africa's heads of government have called on Zimbabwe's political parties to initiate a dialogue aimed at setting up a government of national unity.
They have also pressured the Southern African Development Community to "seize the momentum for a negotiated solution" to the country's political crisis by establishing a mechanism "on the ground" in Zimbabwe.
A summit of the African Union adopted a resolution on Tuesday night which noted that three groups of observers - from SADC, the Pan-African Parliament and the AU itself - had issued "negative reports" on last Friday's presidential run-off vote in Zimbabwe.
The summit said there was an urgent need "to prevent further worsening of the situation" and to avoid the spread of conflict. There was also a need to "to create an environment conducive for democracy" in Zimbabwe.
It said preparatory talks on a unity government had already started, and encouraged President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, "to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue." The summit went on to give explicit support for a government of national unity.
News agency reports from the summit, held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, said the resolution was adopted by Africa's leaders after two hours of debate on Tuesday evening. The text of the resolution was released by the South African government early on Wednesday.
Reuters interpreted the resolution as "a rare AU intervention in an internal political dispute and an unprecedented rebuff to Mugabe." But the agency said the resolution was not as strongly-worded as some nations had wanted.
Botswana reportedly wanted Mugabe banned from African Union and Southern African Development Community meetings. Vice President Mompati Merafhe said allowing him to take part gave "unqualified legitimacy to a process which cannot be considered legitimate."
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Africa-Africa where are you did we stop making honest leaders here the AU is the most despicable group of hoodlums i have ever seen save a few blessed soles. As a continent we have the natural resources to rival any continent in the hands of these blood stained immoral's how can you sit there and not take a stand against a tyrant even if you have sinned dont you owe us a little decency and say "ah sorry Bob you got caught." Its not alarming to see that we cant meet the goals we are to busy crying foul for what the rest of the world has apologized for i.e taking advantage of the motherland for all off mankind. Lets get over it and stop these bandits who use fear to control the masses while they turn around and buy homes in those places they say are to blame for africa's poverty move on please our kids want a better future than meaningless dialog lets start sending these idiots to Mars away from civilization their barbaric ways are the reason Africa cant progress but they live in pomp "huh very nicey house i have here they say" oh we cant send them to Mars cause we haven't figured that out yet or because we tried to kill all the scientist and they are now abroad or is it because we are busy buying Chinese weapons so we can get villas for our pathetic leaders painted in red for the blood that facilitated their retirements. I pray for a better Africa but i think its time to act God must be elsewhere since he dropped of mankind in Africa he kinda split....
Talk of Africans solving African problems. How can we progress as a continent when we have spineless cowards as leaders of progressive minded people. This situation in Zimbabwe has degenarated to totally idiotic levels while statesmen like Thabo "No crisis" Mbeki have done nothing. God forbid. The blood of all the murdered Zimbabweans in on your hands Mbeki for supporting and tolerating your blood thirsty and power hungry alter ego Mugabe. At this moment i feel no pride in being an African and embarassed to be Zimbabwean. How can the AU just resolve to push for negotiations between Zanu PF and MDC, do they think that Mugabe is still a sane and resonable man.They should think again. I am a Zimbabean and i fully know and understand the ruthlessness of Mugabe and the whole of Zimbabwe was eagerly and patiently waiting to hear AU rebuking Mugabe and his one man sham election and begin paving way for a negitiations on a transitional authority. And alas that was not to be. Now Zanu PF and its murderous hoologans are celebrating the AU's passiveness as diplomatic victory and a score against the suffering masses.Talk of Africans solving African problems.Pathetic
It is now time to think of a military solution to removing military dictators and tyrants. There has to be a solution to this problem of people who start out or purport to be good and yet turned out to be tyrants who cling to power even when it is absolutely a pathetic and an indefensible situation like Zimbwabwe now is. It is sickening to watch and listen to these socalled African leaders foot pussy around issues, when overall, the lives of Africans and future of Africa is getting worse not better every day. Sovereignity is meaningless if the sovereign don't respect the laws they make. It is Animal Farm; African tyrants are the pigs who rebeled against their masters only to make and remake the rules in the middle of the night to oppress their fellow compatriots. Mugabe's stupid tyranny is indefensible. A black African tyrant torturing or killing black Africans is no less abominable than a white colonial European killing black Africans. If any thing if it isn't it ought to be more abominable.