SADC pushes for round table talks between Zanu (PF) and MDC
By Tichaona Sibanda
17 August 2007

South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday told his counterparts from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that round table talks between Zanu (PF) and the MDC are the next item on the agenda of his slow moving mediation talks.

However, the report on Zimbabwe that Mbeki presented in a closed-door session of the 27th SADC summit in Lusaka on Thursday might not be made public, according to South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad. According to reports, Pahad told journalists in Pretoria, South Africa, that it was up to the leaders to decide what to do with the report – keep it under wraps or make it public. The deputy minister denied that the Mbeki report had laid a substantial share of blame on former colonial power Britain for the situation in Zimbabwe.

The two-day summit ended Friday. Observers were eagerly anticipating word on two reports regarding efforts to resolve the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe. But as expected, not much information has been available. This is in line with Mbeki’s controversial policy of “quiet diplomacy”.

There are accusations the 14-nation SADC bloc is being too soft on Robert Mugabe. SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salomao told a news conference on Wednesday the regional group would consider options including a ‘hard line’, ‘quiet diplomacy’ or a ‘different’ method. Salomao presented his report on Zimbabwe’s ailing economy, including a proposed turnaround plan, to the Heads of states.

A source told Newsreel from Lusaka that the Zimbabwean issue had caused so much tension at the summit it had become a divisive subject among delegates. The veil of secrecy surrounding the talks seem to have stemmed from accusations that intelligence officers from Zimbabwe authored and leaked a document purporting to come from Mbeki.

In the document that circulated among delegates, Mbeki blamed the British government for the crisis in Zimbabwe. The 14-member regional bloc was under renewed pressure to find a solution to Zimbabwe’s woes, characterised by an inflation rate exceeding 10 000 percent, shortages of basic items, and state-sponsored violence and torture.

Human rights lawyer Tendai Chabvuta accused SADC leaders, especially Mbeki, of treating Mugabe with kid gloves and turning a blind eye to his human rights abuses.

‘Zimbabwe is burning and SADC leaders are busy acting as if nothing is happening. SADC members must take strong and effective action to deal with Mugabe otherwise the regional bloc’s credibility as a real force for change on human rights is on the line here. SADC leaders should insist on tangible improvements in Zimbabwe,’ Chabvuta said.