Zimbabwe: Pressure mounts on Zuma to act

February3rd, 2010

 

 

South African President Jacob Zuma is coming under increasing pressure to help break the political deadlock in Zimbabwe.

Despite claims by the partners in the power sharing government that progress was being made, Finance Minister Tendai Biti told journalists in Washington DC on Tuesday that the shaky coalition could collapse if fundamental outstanding issues are not addressed.

The Finance Minister, who is also a negotiator for the MDC-T in the inter-party talks, reportedly called for the intervention of Zuma as they had failed to break the impasse. Zuma is the SADC appointed mediator in Zimbabwe.

However Biti is quoted by Voice of America saying he was optimistic about the future of the country, in spite of the disputes, adding: "This equation can only work if those fundamental foundational cornerstones which brought the Zimbabwean parties involuntarily together are addressed.

"If there is a fear that there is arrested development on the things that gave rise to (the government) such as democratization, writing of a new constitution and economic reforms, it will collapse. This is the time for President Zuma to show leadership and intervene."

Meanwhile a UK based Zimbabwean pressure group, Zimbabwe Vigil, said South Africa holds the key to a better Zimbabwe and warned it will embark on a series of protests during Zuma's official visit to the UK in March, if Zimbabwe's neighbour failed to act.

"Zuma said the MDC should park their issues about Gideon Gono (Central Bank Governor) and Johannes Tomana (Attorney General). That is saying park your issues about corruption and the rule of law and to us that seems an extraordinary thing to say. Why doesn't he ask Mugabe to park some of his issues which are far more important to get rid off?" asked Rose Benton, the Vigil Coordinator.

She added: "Zuma is coming here and we are watching to see what pressure he puts on this unity government to honour the terms of the Global Political Agreement. If he seems to be just supporting Mugabe then we will come out and protest."

Kate Hoey, an outspoken British Labour MP and chairman of the All Party Zimbabwe Group, echoed the same sentiments. In an opinion piece titled 'It's time to cry foul on Mugabe and show him the red card' she wrote that South Africa must now make it clear to Mugabe that it will no longer accommodate his refusal to implement the terms of the GPA - an agreement he signed up to.

"In the world of international diplomacy, the regional superpower South Africa has been given the job of referee in Zimbabwe. What Zimbabweans can't understand is why, in footballing terms, Mugabe has played foul for so long and never been shown a yellow card, still less been sent off," said the Labour MP.

"They can't understand why Morgan Tsvangirai won the game and yet Mugabe still seems to be allowed to hang onto the trophy. My advice to President Zuma is to be bold before he comes to London in March. He must tell Mugabe his game is up and show him the red card."

 

source.SW Radio Africa (UK/Zimbabwe) - January 28, 2010.