Cape Town — Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has barred the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, the former United States President, Jimmy Carter, and the advocate for the rights of women and children, Graça Machel, from entering Zimbabwe.
The three were due to arrive in Zimbabwe on Saturday to assess the country's growing humanitarian crisis. Millions of Zimbabweans are facing food shortages, the country's educational and health systems are grinding to a halt and there have been outbreaks of cholera.
But news agencies reported that the group had been denied travel visas. The organizers of the visit, the group of former leaders calling themselves "The Elders," said in a statement on Saturday that "the government of Zimbabwe has refused to cooperate in any way to make the visit possible."
Delegations of "Elders" from the group, including Carter and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, have in the past visited other areas of conflict, including Darfur, with the co-operation of the governments concerned.
Annan said in Saturday's statement that he had prepared for the visit by speaking to "many regional leaders" in southern Africa, who welcomed the proposed visit.
"Millions of people are in need of help in Zimbabwe," Annan said in the statement. "We want to use our influence to increase the flow of assistance, immediately and in the longer term, to stop the terrible suffering. We are here to show solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and to assure them that they are not alone."
Machel - also the wife of Nelson Mandela and the widow of former Mozambican president and Mugabe ally Samora Machel - said the Zimbabwean government's ban on the visit was "deeply regrettable."
"People are dying from hunger every day... and hospitals are unable to treat the sick. With schools struggling to stay open, children are missing out on an education. One in four children has lost one or both parents... We want to talk to the people and hear their stories directly"
The delegation is already in South Africa. Carter said the group would remain in the region to learn as much as it could about the situation in Zimbabwe. The Elders was formed in response to an initiative by British businessman Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel.
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I wonder how Desmond Tutu expected himself to be acceptable to Zim authorities when he is advocating for regime change, is he normal. Zdera was was enacted in USA and Carter did not oppose it and now wants to come as a seviour, Annan always talking rubbish about Zim administration wants as well to come ....... uh ... he thinks Zim authorities are insensetive to his being fronted by westerners for the latter"s regime change agenda, what a shame, and they now want to hook in Gracia... . Gracia my dear dont allow yourself to be used, these guys have their own hidden agenda. We don"t read on what they say but on what they really are. You think Zims are not intelligent, sorry
"Icho.
I am forever perplexed by the strident tones of your comments. The three Elders were simply trying to assess the humanitarian situation, not the political issues. Furthermore, Desmond Tutu was not part of the delegation so your comments regarding his non-acceptability to the "Regime" was unfounded and simply shows that you do not read the articles completely.
What is your problem?....Do you want a catastrophe to occur? Are you even in Zimbabwe? Cholera and Starvation know no political affiliation.
You need a reality check.
Exactly, this is about a humanitarian crisis.
Hi, Dave! ------ You need a reality check. Really???? If you have any modicum of integrity in your blood, think again my friend. Read up on the same thing happening next door before you chastise brother Icho. The country next door, namely Rep of Congo, is under dire need of the same things these Elders are talking about. Yet they dont even lift a finger. Dont be fooled. These elders may be shedding crocodile tears. One wonders. Whose bidding are you in for?
I saw it coming. A direct confrontation of Cdr. MUGABE and Western neo-imperialist reactionary circles and their fifth columnists in Africa entire.
The so-called moribund "Elders", whose time was yesterday, we now hear are organized by the heirs of the rape of Africa. Yes: mediated beneficiaries of European xenophobic grounded imperialism.
Elders, my foot.
ALL WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE INTELLIGENCE UNITS IN ZIMBABWE.
Accordingly, information on the "conditions" of the peoples of Zimbabwe is readily available.
THE TRUTH IS THEY WANT REEGIME CHANGE, these tails of neo-western imperialism.
I REFUSE to play the analogy game: Dafur, the DRC.
Bottom line: the brave fighter made Africa proud today. As for that mendacious Anan, the dude from Ghana, I say: mind your business, daddy o: you did nothing for Africa when you headed the UN. You and others are in this whole thing for benjamins. Go get a real job!
I know I wouldn't want to get paid by a beneficiary of European despotic imperialism.
Again, the Cdr. demonstrates his cat fighting instincts. BRAVO!
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