South Africa toughens stance on Zimbabwe crisis

By Lance Guma
06 November 2008

A South African government spokesman on Thursday said the country will take a hard line stance during a SADC summit set for Sunday in Johannesburg, to ensure that agreement is reached on Zimbabwe’s cabinet deadlock. Themba Maseko told reporters the impasse ‘is becoming a matter of extreme concern to us and we will be taking quite a hard stance.’ The tough talk is in stark contrast to mediator Thabo Mbeki’s softly soft approach. ANC President Jacob Zuma warned the parties, ‘you can't leave South Africa without resolving this matter. That is what I am expecting.’ He urged SADC to put more pressure on ZANU PF and the MDC because, ‘what happens in Zimbabwe has an effect on the region.’

Following the failure of a SADC troika last Monday to break the impasse over allocation of cabinet ministries between ZANU PF and the MDC, all parties agreed that a full SADC summit of all 15 member countries should intervene. There is speculation that financial aid packages to the SADC region are being withheld by western countries, unhappy with the failure to tackle Zimbabwe’s crisis. Betraying the region’s anger at this was Maseko’s statement that, ‘South Africa and the region cannot be held to ransom by three parties that are failing to reach agreement on the allocation of cabinet posts.’ Analysts expressed concern the grouping might seek the easy way out by putting pressure on Tsvangirai to capitulate, instead of confronting Mugabe.

The key challenge for SADC countries is to take a united position, as reports allege they are heavily divided on the way forward. Both the MDC and ZANU PF have launched diplomatic offensives in the African region trying to secure support for their different positions. This week Tsvangirai met Botswana’s President Ian Khama and South Africa’s new leader Kgalema Motlanthe. He was also expected to meet African Union Chairman and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday. MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti was to lead another team to Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal while Vice President Thokozani Khupe traveled to Zambia. A third team was to visit Mozambique.

Not to be outdone, ZANU PF dispatched the head of the notorious Joint Operations Command (JOC), Emerson Mnangagwa, to visit Angola, Tanzania and the DRC. Interestingly rebels fighting in the eastern DRC accuse Zimbabwe and Angola of preparing to send troops to fight alongside government soldiers. It was not clear whether Mnangagwa’s visit was linked to lobbying for Sunday’s SADC summit or possible military intervention in the DRC. Many will remember that in 2002 and 2003 Mnangagwa was named in a United Nations Security Council report as one of the key people illegally exploiting minerals in the Congo.

Meanwhile on Thursday the MDC raised concerns about the recent spate of violence across the country, saying ZANU PF had all but ‘buried the talks.’ The party said around the 27th October over 25 MDC supporters were brutally attacked in Epworth and 5 of them had to be hospitalized. The MDC accused ZANU PF of setting up militia bases in Epworth and Harare. A party statement also said: ‘On Thursday 30th October state security agents in Banket, Mashonaland West province, raided the homes of the MDC leadership and arrested nine MDC members including a two year-old girl.’

Reports initially indicated Sunday’s SADC summit would be held in Pretoria but it is now said to be at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Several protests are expected to be held to express displeasure at events taking place in Zimbabwe, including the arrest and beating up of activists.