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SW Radio Africa (London)

Zimbabwe: Jimmy Carter Says SADC Ineffective in Dealing With Country

Violet Gonda

24 November 2008

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Former US President Jimmy Carter has spoken out about the events surrounding the humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe by the group of Elders.

Carter confirmed he was refused entry into Zimbabwe, together with former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and rights activist Graca Machel, despite denials by the Mugabe regime that the prominent figures had been barred.

Carter said the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe is extremely serious and they should have been allowed into the country to assess the extent of the situation first hand. "Apparently the government has very little concern for the suffering of the people but obviously their number one goal is to remain in power."

He also criticised leaders in Southern Africa for not taking bold action against the 'illegitimate' government of Zimbabwe. He said regional leaders won't even use their influence to encourage Robert Mugabe to comply with the power sharing agreement in a manner that reflects the will of the people.

The former US President spoke to SW Radio Africa on Sunday and said the group had been told they would be granted visas for Zimbabwe on entering South Africa. But once there they received a message through former South African President Thabo Mbeki, that Mugabe had said they were not welcome and would not be issued visas.

Instead the Elders stayed in South Africa where they were given first-hand accounts of the disturbing conditions in Zimbabwe from refugees at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg. They also met Prime Minister Designate Morgan Tsvangirai, and leaders from the business and financial sectors, churches and civic groups, who described the worsening crisis in where at least 300 people have died in hospitals as a result of the cholera epidemic, while an unknown number have died in their homes. Hyper-inflation has crippled the economy, there are severe food shortages, massive power and water cuts and a complete collapse of the health and education sectors.

In parts of the country there is total lawlessness and mass murder, such as in the diamond mines of Manicaland, while at least 20 people die each day in Zimbabwe's prisons.

Carter said the group of Elders wanted to get first hand information to enable them to publicise the suffering and also to help work out a better 'accommodation' between the government of Zimbabwe and those who are trying to help.

He said there is clearly no indication on the part of Mugabe that he has any intention of sharing power with rival parties. "There is very little doubt in my mind that Tsvangirai actually won the election back in March. But of course after a five week delay the election authorities - controlled by Mugabe - revealed that Tsvangirai got the minimal vote. Then with the intimidation of the people and the political punishment of Tsvangirai and his party members, the run-off made it impossible. So it's an illegitimate government imposing their will on the people of Zimbabwe."

Carter said the lack of political progress is the cause of the humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe and that there is no question that the two are connected and inseparable. He said African leaders have the responsibility to help resolve the crisis "but they have been completely ineffective and very timid in encouraging or forcing Mugabe to accept the result of the negotiations that he himself approved back in September."

The Elders said that from the feedback they received from Zimbabweans and foreign Ambassadors, Mugabe has retained complete power and there is no indication that he has any intention of letting go.

Carter said the key to SADC's power and influence in Zimbabwe is through South Africa. But he said that Thabo Mbeki had not performed his duty as a negotiator:"We have met with him but I don't think he has shown any inclination or desire to put real pressure on Mugabe."

The Elders also met with Botswana's President Ian Khama and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who pledged to help break the Zimbabwean political impasse.

The Elders concluded their mission in South Africa on Monday, saying the SADC region needs to acknowledge that the crisis in Zimbabwe is affecting neighbouring countries and it is in the interests of all, that it be addressed immediately. They said humanitarian agencies must have unimpeded access, to assess needs and deliver humanitarian assistance without restraint. They also appealed to political parties to implement the Global Political Agreement as a matter of urgency, and work to form a truly inclusive government to tackle the humanitarian and economic crisis.

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