Confusion over Zimbabwe-South Africa spy deal

By Lance Guma
24 November 2005

Controversy surrounds the signing of a ‘defence and security’ deal between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The two neighbours say they want to increase co-operation on defence and security matters by sharing security information and co-operating in enforcing immigration laws. No sooner had the ink dried the Zimbabwean side was boasting about getting information on NGO’s working in South Africa from their counterparts.

Top Zimbabwean spy Aggrey Maringa told the Johannesburg based Sunday Times newspaper that ‘There are some NGO’s under the microscope…we will be comparing notes. We have not given each other prescriptions as to boundaries.’ This has been interpreted as a clear indication they got assurances from South Africans they get access to this information. Coincidentally state security minister Didymus Mutasa told a gathering in Cape Town that journalists and NGO’s posed the greatest threat to Zimbabwe’s stability.

The South Africans were however quick to issue a denial of the Zimbabwean claims. Wilf Mbanga writing for The Zimbabwean says ‘the resulting confusion aptly demonstrates just how difficult it is for a democracy to get into bed with a dictatorship.’ The definition of what an enemy is seems to differ between the two sides Mbanga pointed out. Andrew Meldrum a correspondent for the UK Guardian newspapers says the deal is a step backwards in South African policy which had seemed to be hardening in the last couple of months.

Meldrum says on the surface it would look as if the South Africans want to get as many black pilots trained in their Air force as possible via co-operation with Zimbabwe. It is the agenda of the Zimbabwean side that seems to worrying most people Meldrum added.