Another Zuma mediation effort starts in Zimbabwe

By Lance Guma
26 November 2010

South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in the country Friday as part of endless regional efforts to diffuse political tensions that have paralysed the shaky coalition government. His visit came two days after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai filed a High Court petition seeking to annul the unilateral appointments of provincial governors made by an increasingly intransigent Robert Mugabe.

Even as Zuma held meetings with the party leaders, political analyst John Makumbe predicted he would go back ‘with half-baked promises from Mugabe’ and the trip was just another ‘wild goose chase.’ Even the fact that Mugabe is the one who met Zuma at the airport sent out its own message. The mediation effort has been littered with deadlines set and deadlines not met and Mugabe has on most occasions reneged on promises, made even to his close ally Zuma.

Instead of a firm mediation effort the South African leader has been accused of cosying up to the ZANU PF leader, allowing him to get away with violating the same power sharing deal that saved his skin when he lost elections in March 2008. Reflecting the lack of seriousness by the regional SADC group was the fact that last week the Zambian and Mozambican presidents failed to turn up for a meeting of their organ on politics, defence and security, to discuss Zimbabwe. This effectively cancelled the talks on the crisis.

Meanwhile some analysts have rounded on the MDC-T, accusing them of lacking focus in their fight against Mugabe. With the life of the coalition about to end and fresh elections inevitable, the wisdom of pursuing issues like the appointment of governors, ambassadors and judges has been questioned. Instead the party has been advised to focus on issues that have a real bearing on the next election, like the voters roll, other electoral reforms and a free media that includes independent broadcasters.