SANDF generals on a mission in Zimbabwe

A NUMBER of former army generals from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are in Zimbabwe gathering information on the escalating level of violence in the country.

Led by Lt-Gen Gilbert Lebeko Ramano, former South African army chief, this group is part of the Sadc mediation initiative led by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

SANDF is intervening under the banner of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

The group arrived in Zimbabwe Monday last week and was given the mandate by Sadc "to intervene in all conflicts arising within the region." It is under this banner that they are currently in Zimbabwe.

This has been revealed by religious leaders who are part of the Presidential Religious Working group, after a meeting with President Mbeki in Pretoria.

Mbeki told religious leaders that the South African was investigating the violence and was speaking to victims and would report to him soon.

"It is intended that once that report is received, they will take steps to ensure that the run-off takes place in as free and fair manner as possible," said the Ashwin Trikamjee, co-chair of the group.

This is not the first time SANDF have been involved in missions in Zimbabwe. They are currently on patrol duties and borderline operations in Lompopo, at the Zimbabwe―South Africa border.

SANDF is a robust national military that was reorganized in 1994 with the integration of the apartheid-era force with the militant nationalist groups. SANDF has participated in peacekeeping operations in Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sudan, and elsewhere.