THE SOUTH African Government has issued a statement saying that they cannot pressure President Robert Mugabe to leave office as his position is provided for in a power–sharing arrangement signed by all parties in Zimbabwe.
Responding to questions after a media briefing in Pretoria yesterday, South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Director-General Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, said that South Africa’s stance on Zimbabwe was guided by the agreement signed on September 15 this year facilitated by former President Thabo Mbeki and mandated by Sadc and the African Union.
“South Africa cannot arrive at a decision that says that what is included in that (Sept. 15) agreement, viz. that President Mugabe should be President and Morgan Tsvangirai should be Prime Minister – South Africa cannot disagree with this because this agreement is what is guiding all actions of SADC,” said Dr Ntsaluba in response to questions from the media.
“So, the posture that we are assuming now, is not the posture of pressurizing President Mugabe to step down,” added Dr Ntsaluba.
“Thankfully, the leaders of Zimbabwe, in their wisdom, agreed on 15 September 2008 to a framework they believe will assist them to extract their country from its difficulties.
“The pressure on President Mugabe and Zanu-PF is for them to move with greater speed to successfully implement the agreement … so that an inclusive government can be established.”
The Director-General emphasized the urgency of the formation of an all-inclusive Government in Zimbabwe to deal with the humanitarian situation in the country.
“Sadc, or indeed anyone who loves Zimbabwe, would want to put as much pressure on the leaders for them to move with greater speed towards concluding and establishing an inclusive government,” he said.
“We have a situation that is assuming a humanitarian character. Today it is cholera, in two months time it might be malaria remembering that we are on the verge of the rainy season. Hence, we need an inclusive government to assist the people of Zimbabwe. That is really the approach.”
Dr Ntsaluba dismissed calls by Western leaders and their African allies that troops should be deployed in Zimbabwe to forcibly remove President Mugabe from power.
Echoing sentiments from other Sadc countries' leaders including Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, Dr Ntsaluba said, “I cannot see that arising. I do not believe that is on the agenda of the South African government at all. I do not think that the South African government is persuaded that that is the right way to go.”
He added that South Africa was considering a raft of measures to help Zimbabwe deal with the current cholera epidemic in the country.
“The Ministers will be discussing the package of support measures that can be offered to Zimbabwe – both in the interests of Zimbabwe and its people, but also in the interests of limiting the reach of these communicable diseases to the geographical borders of only Zimbabwe.”
Dr Ntsaluba stressed the need to focus on the urgent cholera crisis to minimize the death emanating therefrom, and asked political leaders to refrain from using the crisis for political points scoring.
“There should be no political point scoring and games played when what is really needed right now is support.”
He added that South Africa’s mission in Zimbabwe during this crisis was not to listen to stories about who is to blame for the crisis, but to contain it.
“I don’t think we went to Zimbabwe, or even want to spend too much time and effort on apportioning blame and who is responsible for what.”
“You need all of the political leadership of Zimbabwe, across the political divide to pull together in one direction and try to help their country and so, all our efforts will be aimed at trying to nudge them to work for this and so, we would not really want to spend time on who is responsible.”
Dr Ntsaluba said he would not be drawn into judging the wisdom of MDC-T leader’s absence from Zimbabwe at this crucial juncture.
“Prime Minister designate Tsvangirai is not in Zimbabwe, yes I don’t know, he may be in South Africa or outside of Zimbabwe. For now, we don’t want to comment on whether that is the wise or correct thing for him to do in the middle of this crisis. That is his choice, his decision. We respect the decisions he takes.”
He reiterated the need to urgently form a Government in Zimbabwe to tackle the multitude of problems the country currently faces.
“All we are saying to them is move with speed, implement those decisions so that we can begin to tackle the challenges facing the country.”
(Report by Itayi Garande. More information can be obtained via: itayi@talkzimbabwe.com)
|
|
n/a • n/a
Subject: Mugabe
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:50:50 • Nkumalo Mbuso -Well articulated .Hamadziripi comments show a naivety that is unbelievable. In one posting ,he is advocating for the services of Annan , Obasanjo and Sierra Leone for the Zim problem. Is he not aware that Obasanjo first came to power in Nigeria via a military coup? When things started unravelling in Nigeria and Obasanjo was about to be hanged , it was Mugabe who saved his neck from the gallows. Obasanjo is no democrat and his latter day conversion to democracy as head of a civilian govt was all a smoke screen.
As for Annan , who does not know of his dismal failure at the helm of the UN.
He did nothing for Africa except look away when genocide was taking place in Rwanda. Was not his son implicated in the Food for Oil corruption in Iraqi whilst the Iraqis were reeling under western imposed sanctions (under the guise of UN sanctions)? Annan was UN Secretary General, wasn't he? Corruption, Corruption, Corruption!
As for Sierra Leonne,this was Tony Blair's project and can anyone trust Blair's protege? Hamadziripi thinks these are Africa's saviours. UZ is renowned for producing world class graduates. What happened to Hamadziripi? Could it be he spent most of his time at UZ indulging in ZINASU (funded by Soros) activities that he paid little attention to his studies and came out of UZ with no added value?
Watch this video Hamadziripi, have a view of what sanctions can do and give us feed back.Hope this gives you a taster of what sanctions are doing to Zims and how a country once invaded like Iraq can be looted.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=r0GQUtYkxfY&feature=related
Nxumalo Mbuso • nmbuso@gmail.com
Subject: Zimbabwe
Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:20:47 • Hamadziripi. Why did your party sign a document which had been forged. That shows clear stupidity on the part of your leadership. You sign a document without reading it How many documents have they signed so far while receiving donations from their sponsors.? King Lobengula is better because there were no schools then.
Don't waste our time over nothing. Do you know how many countries build up SADC? Actually its a sheer waste of time responding to Hamadziripi's articles. To imagine he is the same person who has been telling us he is a UZ fundi. How can you compare ANC with Pick Botha's party? You should know better that when Africans were in real need during colonial rule UK & USA never raised any finger but pretended all was well. They instead supplied their kin with weapons to kill the Africans. Africans had to fight for their rights as people not the stupidity you are exhibiting.
Tsvangirai may come into power but if he fails to deliver to them whatever he is promising them, they will still call for his ouster. One great man was quoted as saying, Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity A person who claims to be a UZ product standing up to declare to the world that people who killed Africans,who killed Steve Biko, jailed Mandela for 27 years,bombed SA and Zimbabwean refugees in Mozambique and Zambia like they were killing flies are a gift from God
na • na.com
Subject: PROOF PLEASE
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:52:57 • Faraway it goes without saying that MDC-MT obviously have copies of the original document they signed deposited with their bank. how do we know they havent changed the copies instead? please can we have proof of your accusations.
na. • na.com
Subject: ASYLUM SEEKERS
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:04:06 • Faraway you are far off the mark and such rhetoric slander is offsides.
how vicious can you be?
you are obviously not a very nice person. sad.
on the other hand when this mess is over, will all those who sought asylum be allowed back home with clean slates? i know asylum seekers who are now wishing they had never gone that route and regret everything and cannot wait to return. if only they were allowed to now they would be in Zim.
N/A • N/A
Subject: Getting things Wrong
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:32:16 • I think the truth should be told. Inclusive Government or not, what we need in Zimbabwe are two things.
From GOD ON HIGH, we kindly request a good rainy season so that the rank and file of Zimbabweans, can plough their little plots and whatever land they can lay hands on, and have food at house hold level enough for one year. This is my prayer to you Mwari wa Abraham, Jacob and me.
And to the world leaders, I pray lift these sanctions-particularly to Hilary and Obama-who I supported through and through, please repeal this Zimbabwe Democracy Act. It is not a democracy Act, but a Sanctions Act. Hilary, you are Secretary of State. Dont continue BUSHISM. We need change we can beleive in. American interests, are more protected by having many friends. Zimbabwe should be OBAMA's first friend- a friend on equal terms not that of a slave and a master.
Waiting for Change we can believe IN.
n/a • n/a
Subject: The Urgency of Prayer and Repentance
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:14:00 • When a nation is suffering disease and people wondering what's happening, the bible calls for Prayer and repentance. Men of God have the responsibility of blowing the ram horn and summoning everyone including the country's leaders to the ordinary man including children to pray in the House of God. This is the stage we are in. All these events are leading to the coming of Jesus Christ. The word of God will be preached to all men. So the people of Zimbabwe must receive this word and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. They must throw away their sins and leave every form of evil. The book of Joel calls for Repentance when a nation is in a time of judgement. Malachi calls for Repentance and giving pure and real offerings when the temple of God is filled with defiled ones. The blood of Jesus is the greatest offering or sacrifice that you can give that breaks generational curses and any curse that came through war or bloodshed and other curses from the past. These are the scriptures given by Cindy Jacobs to the nation of Zimbabwe in her prophecy in 2001. Let Jesus Christ come and take over your souls and his love is there for everyone to see..
Faraway • zim.crisis@gmail.com
Subject: The deal is a farce
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:45:38 • It is just very unfortunate that the Sept 15 agreement was forged by Mugabe's henchmen, altering many elements that had already been agreed upon 4 days earlier by all parties. It is this typical sly behaviour that will get Mugabe nowhere fast in this farcical unity deal.
Mugabe's Reconciliation to the whiteman was a mistake! He has lived to fight for the other day! • n/a
Subject: n/a
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:55:18 • If there are people who are entertaining the notion that invading Zimbabwe is going to be a piece a cake, we say, stand back, take a deep breath, engage your thought processes fully and then look at the people whose country you want to invade and see whether they are running scared of your threats!War, its not as easy as simply saying we are going to invade! In Zimbabwe we are not scared whether the invader is a big and hairy American or a smarmy stiff upper lipped Briton. As soon as they step into our territory uninvited then they should know all hell will break loose. We fought British, American, Israeli, Polish, German and even white and black South African mercenaries during our war for national liberation. These died when they were shot at nice and proper because after all they are human. Hence we wont run scared of them. We will engage them and they should know that the decision to internationalise this conflict would have been theirs as we are going to true to the adage that says, your enemy who is my enemy, makes us friends, hence it will be our right to seek the support of anyone who is fighting these invaders whereever that fighting may be taking place and we will give them another front to operate from as long as it is in our own national interest and the whole region can be on fire for all we care! Those that are of a certain hue and colour not particularly native to Africa will then suddenly find out that they have become unacceptable to those of us whom they previously thought were their countrymen! We, as Zimbabweans forgave what evil had been perpertrated on us by our former colonisers but we did not forget! Now if the same people think they can have a second bite on the cherry of colonialism against our people, it only right that we tell them in very clear and unmistakeable terms that they will surely reap the whirlwind where they have sowed the wind. Zimbabwe, unlike Sierra Leone will be their whirlwind and we will not budge cometh the hour!
Hamadziripi Simbaneuta • hsimbaneuta@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: So South Africa has to start by respecting the Agreement
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:12:49 • I wonder the way some of our neighbours are handling the crisis we are right now.I think if you look at the situation the South African government is now playing the Apartheid games. They are doing it actual more than the Apartheid Regime of Botha.As I said before I find it difficult to understand our revolutionary parties , when they become to govern. They tend to adapt the same policies they spend their entire life fighting and they implement them worse off.
Now they respect the agreement , but are they respecting the implemantion of that deal.If Africa Union has said go and share power equally then that should be the case.But what are neighbours are failing to understand that they are contributory to our problems by taking intrest siding with the other party instead of helping to unite two parties.
It does not make sense to just say go and form an all inclusive government , when the other one is not even respecting the deal.In fact South African government is the main problem in dealing with our political situation.I think they have now to stand aside and let others with differrent ways e.g people like Obasanjo, Annan or Seirra Leon .
As long Thabo Mbeki or South African government are still responsible , that means we are still a long way going downwards.
togarepi mavhiyangwena • tmbomv@yahoo.com
Subject: Mwana wevhu
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:53:23 • MaZimba tinoti isu hongu opposition tinoida. We support it left right and center but the issue of talking war is something else.
Kumba kwamai vani kunoitirwa matakanana iwaya.Not if I know my wife's life is at stake my children and parents' lives are at risk. Support war for what? How do I know this will solve our problem.Already personally I have doubts and regrets. Leaders who say something today and and deny it tomorrow.
Thank you for telling it as it is..They pretend as if the opposition has not been recognised in Zim politics. The opposition signed and agreed that Bob will be President period. All we want is a Govt to be in place as per agreement.
I can not imagine my mother being gunned down so that someone so loved by Brown Gordon and Jojo Bush becomes Head of state. Tomorrow if they think of replacing him they come back to kill my father and who knows maybe the entire family. Pure madness.
|
