29 August 2009

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma told President Robert Mugabe to show more flexibility in resolving outstanding issues in the inclusive government during private meetings last week but failed to break the deadlock over the parties.

Sources said Zuma who is also the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) surprised Mugabe with his frank assessment of the problems threatening the seven-month-old coalition during meetings on Thursday and Friday.


Zuma held separate meetings with Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara during his two-day state visit.
“Mugabe was told in no uncertain terms that the region cannot continue shielding him,” one of the sources said. “Even Zuma’s speech was a departure from the pampering that Mugabe has enjoyed from his peers.”

The South African leader whose ruling African National Congress (ANC) had said it expected him to curb “deviant behaviour” in the Mugabe camp ahead of his visit, said Western aid won’t be forthcoming until the outstanding issues were resolved.


“The inclusive government has the responsibility to fully implement the global political agreement and thus create confidence in the process,” Zuma said when he officially opened the Harare Agricultural Show on Friday.


A number of countries have been offering Zimbabwe humanitarian assistance but they have set conditions for the provision of large-scale economic aid.


The government says it needs over US$8 billion to revive the comatose economy.
“Since these relate to the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to which the signatories remain fully committed, meeting these benchmarks should be a priority in the inclusive government,” Zuma said.


In thinly veiled remarks on disruptions to farming activities Zuma said: “…it will be critical that the country guarantees food security and self-reliance. The GPA seeks to ensure the restoration of full productivity on all agricultural land in the interest of all people of Zimbabwe.


“We must underline that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the Sadc region as a whole, which is why it is important to us all… The performance of agriculture has a strong influence on food security, economic growth and stability of the Sadc region.”


The MDC described Zuma’s statement as “refreshing” and “unequivocal.”


Tsvangirai called for Zuma’s intervention to help resolve feuding over the reappointment of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono, the appointment of Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and the speed of political reforms.


Zanu PF says the only outstanding issue is sanctions against Mugabe’s inner circle, which it says the MDC must campaign for removal.


“The outstanding issues were given the due attention they deserve,” MDC-T spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said.


“We are now waiting for the Sadc meeting early next month (September) to help bring finality to these disputes.


“We are heartened that Zuma publicly implored the political leaders in this country to work towards concluding the outstanding issues so that the political agreement can be fully consummated.
Chamisa said although the meetings between Zuma, Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara were brief, “they were thorough”.


The Sadc summit will be held early in September in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, analysts fear that once Zuma passes on the Sadc chairmanship to the inexperienced President Joseph Kabila, Mugabe will return to his arrogant ways.


“Zuma should have taken Zimbabwe much earlier in his tenure as chairman of Sadc,” political scientist Eldred Masunungure said. Kabila is one of Mugabe’s few remaining allies in the region.


thezimbabwestandard