SW Radio Africa (London)
Violet Gonda
14 November 2008
Three members of the globally respected group of Elders, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former United States President Jimmy Carter, and international advocate for women and children's rights Graça Machel are expected to visit Zimbabwe next weekend to assess the escalating humanitarian crisis.
A statement issued on Friday by the group said it has been observing the decline of Zimbabwe's economic and humanitarian situation with concern for some time.
The three Elders - who have experience in conflict resolution - plan to make a first hand assessment of how to effectively respond to the Zimbabwe crisis and its effects on neighbouring countries.
"Relieving the suffering of millions of people must be the priority of Zimbabwe's leaders," said Annan. "But global attention is also slipping as Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis worsens."
Political commentator Professor John Makumbe said the impending visit is a welcome move because some in the international community do not understand the gravity of the hardships that Zimbabweans are facing, and the coming of the Elders will help publicise this disaster.
Millions face starvation in a country battered by economic turmoil and political uncertainty. Many lives are being lost through preventable diseases such as cholera, and also as a result of the total collapse of the country's social fabric.
Zimbabwe has had no proper government since the controversial elections held in March, which has exacerbated an already abnormal situation. The country's political rivals are still locked in a stalemate over the distribution of key ministries in the power-sharing government.
Annan said the delegation will not be involved in the current political negotiations, emphasising it was a humanitarian mission. "However, we urge Zimbabwe's political leaders to move swiftly to fully implement the 15th September agreement, particularly the provisions on humanitarian and food assistance. Delays in forming a government are prolonging the suffering of the people."
Makumbe said even though the delegation is coming on a humanitarian matter they will be left with no choice but to make recommendations regarding the political impasse after they have seen for themselves the poverty caused by bad governance.
The outspoken commentator said: "I think Annan underestimates the gravity of the situation. When he gets here and sees truckloads of dead bodies, victims of cholera; when he gets here and he sees people queuing outside banks; when he gets here and he sees the poverty and the suffering; when he gets here and he finds the hospitals closed and people are unable to get medicinal drugs, he will rethink that position and I think he will actually say there is no way the Mugabe regime can go on like this, it has to be revamped. The political impasse has to be resolved."
The three will visit Zimbabwe on the 22nd and 23rd November. The Elders are: Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Yunus. Aung San Suu Kyi is an honorary Elder.
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That it took so long before Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai to finally give up on expecting Mugabe / Zanu-pf to keep their word is a great testament to his patience and love of his country; my admiration for him has increased many fold. Why, even after the accords were agreed on, would mugs & co. do this? Simple : Robert G. Mugabe is guilty of Crimes Against Humanity, a Proven Mass Murderer, and wants to die in office. That his people are suffering, being tortured and starved to death, makes not a wit to him or his cronies; it is the ultimate exercise in narcissism. Mark my words : Until RGM dies, there will be no peace in Zimbabwe. Sadly, it won’t, at first, end there, for those around him will continue fighting for the lie that they are, and for the same reason. In the mean time, expect more of the same : Monies given for fighting disease and hunger will buy plasma TV’s and new cars for the few, and the rest of the country will cry out in misery. My prayers are with the Zimbabweans ~ not the lunatic few who now hold sway.
God Bless You Morgan......At last an intelligent decision. Mugabe's and his fancy uniformed henchmen will never negotiate in good faith. Just maybe it's time to fight.
TexasBob, Of course, this Morgan is a stooge and a loser! If he thinks he is fooling Mugabe, he is wasting his time because we all know that he is not for Zimbabweans but a western stooge! AM HAPPY THAT HE HAS PULLED OUT because he was selling Zim for cheap to the west. Finally, disrespecting the SADC decision was rather arrogant on his part since he was the one campaigning vigorously for that same SADC meeting that made the ruling he did not like!
Zimbabwe will survive, and prosper WITHOUT WESTERN ROPE-ATTACKED AIDS! Now that he has pulled out, the SADC will get full reason to ignore western sanctions and help Zimbabwe! For those planning civil war, the CIO will deal with them accordingly wherever they may be! The west must get over its lost of business domination in Zim, and move on! God bless Zim!
Jumakamao uribwa yemunhu, you should use your brain kwete kufunga nemachenge, if SADC can help zim why are they waiting. Uchifungao
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