South Africa President Mbeki urged to speak out on Zimbabwe

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 March, 2007

As the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate a chorus of voices against the Mugabe regime is getting louder and louder on the African continent and internationally as well.

On Wednesday we reported that the Zambian Foreign Minister Mundia Sikatana broke his silence and urged countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to stop pretending “all is well in Zimbabwe .” On Thursday the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party, praised Sikatana’s comments saying they were the most upfront so far by any political leader in southern Africa . In a statement released by the D.A., national chairman Joe Seremane said: “ South Africa ’s President Thabo Mbeki now more than ever needs to break his curious silence on the deteriorating political and economic situation in Zimbabwe or face further ridicule in this regard.”

The D.A. said they agree with the Zambian minister Sikatana that SADC states have a responsibility to pressure Robert Mugabe to enter into dialogue that would resolve the crisis. The D.A. also agreed that the SADC regional governments look to South Africa for leadership in dealing with the Zimbabwean crisis, and also in dealing with Mugabe’s hostility towards the political opposition and the press.

We asked Tim Hughes, research fellow at the South Africa Institute of International Affairs, whether South Africa and President Mbeki have any obligation to act on Zimbabwe . Hughes said South Africa has made it perfectly clear it will not act unilaterally on Zimbabwe , but rather wishes to act in concert with SADC. Explaining further, Hughes said: “Now if Zambia can galvanize support to place Zimbabwe firmly on the SADC agenda, it will have South Africa ’s support.”

Zambia takes over the SADC chair in August. And if the foreign minister’s words are any indication, Zimbabwe will finally be firmly on the SADC agenda. Time will tell.