South African business cashing in on Zimbabwe crisis

By Tichaona Sibanda
24 October 2007

A report by a regional human rights body based in Johannesburg has cast doubt on the role South Africa is playing in the turmoil in Zimbabwe.

The Solidarity Peace Trust said in its findings that South African companies are cashing in on the country’s economic turmoil by boosting investments and expanding their operations in spite of deepening hardships in the country.

Brian Raftopolous, director of research and advocacy for SPT was critical of some South African companies, which he accused of cashing in on the economic crisis, saying that such companies need to stop putting profits before ethics, and start playing a greater role in resolving the country’s problems.

Solomon Chikohwero, a critic of President Thabo Mbeki’s mediation role in the SADC led talks said the crisis in Zimbabwe would have long been resolved if the South African head of state had been an honest negotiator.

‘I have always told anyone who cares to listen that Mbeki would rather leave things as they are because the economy in South Africa is making huge profits from the turmoil in Zimbabwe. At least people now know why they have stuck to their quiet diplomacy for so long,’ Chikohwero said.

Chikohwero added that Robert Mugabe is fully aware of Mbeki’s predicament and has used it to his ruling party’s advantage. He explained that whenever pressure is put on Mbeki to denounce the regime in Zimbabwe, Mugabe has always fought back by threatening to take over or expel South African companies based in the country.

The South African based Chikohwero, a pro-democracy activist said that while he fully agrees with the Solidarity Peace trust report, his recommendation would be to relieve Mbeki from his role and appoint a neutral negotiator, who is not based in the SADC region.

‘SADC cannot expect Mbeki to bring miracles to Zimbabwe when he is an interested figure. Obviously there is a conflict of interest in his role as the facilitator and chief mediator when companies from his country are making huge profits from Zimbabwe’s deepening economic crisis,’ Chikohwero said.