Wyndham Hartley
7 November 2008
Cape Town — SA's softly softly approach to the Zimbabwe crisis is set to change when Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state hold an emergency meeting on Sunday.
Former president Thabo Mbeki, right up to the moment when he was removed from office, stuck to his policy of quiet diplomacy in dealing with President Robert Mugabe.
Mbeki has been accused of favouring the octogenarian leader in mediating the conflict with Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Yesterday, however, chief government spokesman Themba Maseko said that when the cabinet met on Wednesday it had expressed extreme concern at the lack of progress in power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe.
A meeting a week ago of a select group of SADC leaders, including President Kgalema Motlanthe, failed to make any headway in resolving the deadlock between Mugabe and Tsvangirai over the allocation of cabinet posts. This necessitated a full extraordinary meeting of SADC heads of state on Sunday in Johannesburg.
In response to questions at a news conference, Maseko said SA would be "taking quite a hard stance" at Sunday's meeting because urgent steps were needed to resolve the situation, which was having an effect on the entire region.
Asked to elaborate on the "hard stance" that SA would take, Maseko said: "We are anxious about the failure to reach agreement, and will be expressing the view that it now has to be done urgently." He said there was also concern the planting season being missed in Zimbabwe, where millions would need emergency food aid .
In his medium-term budget policy statement last month, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced R300m had been allocated to provide a lifeline for Zimbabwean agriculture.
But Maseko said the government was having difficulty in sitting at ministerial level with the Zimbabweans to discuss allocation of the money. In the absence of a functioning cabinet the agricultural rescue plan would be stillborn.
Maseko said government had also expressed extreme concern at renewed fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where SA played a key role in brokering a peace deal.
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Of course let's not forget that Salomao's communique was objected to by many as not covering the full detail of the resolution, omitting some crucial decisions by the Troika that weren't in Zanu PF's favour. SA's foreign minister is reported to have been dimayed at the misrepresentation of the facts by the communique and the SA president is reported to agree that the MDC's 'equitable distribution' demand was reasonable. So if SA is going to take a tough stance and these reports have any truth in them, don't expect SADC to necessarily vindicate or confirm Mugabe's position on the implementation… [Read Full Text]
African32, I've noticed you seem to be in denial of the present state of affairs..You see, the bottom line is that there is an official SADC troika report in place that was drafted by 3 troika nations which confirms that the impasse is on Home Affairs ministry only... You said, "SA's foreign minister is reported to have been dismayed...." I challenge you to tell me where and when she PUBLICLY informed the media on that aspect...African32, The Western sponsored MDC-T keeps shifting goalposts almost on a daily basis in regards to these talks, thereby confusing their own supporters who're… [Read Full Text]
Comical Mabhiza,
Can you please give us a link to this "official SADC troika report in place that was drafted by 3 troika nations...."
I'm pretty sure you will find it doesnt say any of the things you think it does...
So lets see it eh? Or are you making this all up?
Well, you've had enough time, clearly you have made this all up. Its so easy to see how much of a fool you are. You have zero credibility. Once you tell one lie, everyone will see thatyou cant be trusted. The problem is you've told 100 lies, so what does that make you?
Mabhiza if anyone is in denial it is you trying to beleive Mugabe is what Zim needs b/c He alone is the cause for all of Zim's problems and did you forget he is the joke for the president who has been in charge for over the past 20 years so stop lying to yourself and anyone else. Tsvangirai and the MDC is not in charge or has not been so let Mugabe and the Zanu-pf accept the complete blame for the downfall of Zimbabwe. You seem to forget that the old and crazy Mugabe agreed to a… [Read Full Text]
Afric35, As far as the truth is concerned, it's you who's in denial...Now, you said 'He alone is the cause for all of Zim problems'..In case you're not yet aware of it..MDC-T finally admited on 15 september,that Zimbabwe is under ruinous economic sanctions that are affecting the entire nation's ordinary people,all industries and factories..The Western sponsored stooges finally acknowledged this after a decade of fierce denial...Afric32, as ignorant as you're i suggest you take a closer look at Article iv of the powersharing agreement..In brief this is the section that the MDC-T,MDC-M and ZANU-PF explain the economic implications… [Read Full Text]
Mabhiza, you have no evidence whatsover that Tsvangirai called for any sanctions and are simply making this up to alienate Tsvangirai from the majority of Zimbabweans that support him. Why do you do this?
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SADC leaders should make sure that this upcoming summit is a conclusive one...It's highly likely that they will come up with a final resolution based on last week's Troika report presented by executive secretary Tomasz Salomao...This incisive report makes it clear that no fresh proposals from the 3 parties were presented ,the cabinet allocations made by President Mugabe were indorsed and also the fact that the present impasse is on Home Affairs ministry only...The Western sponsored MDC-T may try to stall the agreement by shifting goalposts and presenting fresh proposals...SADC leaders should make it categorically clear that Tsvangi and his… [Read Full Text]