Is Mugabe losing the support of his closest allies?
This news footage fresh from South Africa (22 March 2007)
UPDATE:Channel Four News has uncovered a secret meeting between the Zimbabwe vice president - Joyce Mujuru, a leading contender to take over from Robert Mugabe, and the South African vice president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in Johannesburg. Watch the report here. It includes footage of an interview with Archbishop Pius Ncube
And this from Business Day today:
THERE are signs that regional leaders are growing impatient with the way SA is handling Zimbabwe’s political crisis.
There is a danger to SA that our Southern African Development Community (SADC) partners may begin to move in way that could dent Pretoria’s diplomatic image in the region.
Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa’s assertion this week that quiet diplomacy has failed to solve the political chaos and economic meltdown in Zimbabwe is just an illustration of this. There is frustration and a little malice in the remark. Mwanawasa must have known his words would sting President Thabo Mbeki. But they are also heartfelt, bemoaning as they do the sight of Pretoria missing out on a wonderful opportunity to finally abandon quiet diplomacy in favour of a more direct approach on the issue.
Observers thought that Pretoria would, finally, emerge from its diplomatic torpor in the wake of last week’s savage clampdown on the Zimbabwean opposition. Its silence, however, has been deafening and it is interesting that not only did Mwanawasa say his piece, but that he said it in Namibia, which has increasingly been viewed as a close Zimbabwe ally. This might have prompted former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda — historically a potent supporter of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe — to say that what was needed most was the creation of a committee of eminent persons to mediate Zimbabwe’s worsening political crisis.
Mwanawasa’s and Kaunda’s statements were made at a crucial time in young SA’s diplomatic history — just days after SA completed its tenure at the United Nations Security Council by blocking discussion on Zimbabwe and ahead of next week’s SADC summit.
It is quite possible that regional leaders looking at the Zimbabwe issue next week could outpace SA on the issue and leave Pretoria looking both isolated and ineffectual.
Putting big and powerful Pretoria in its place would be an appealing prospect for our poorer northern neighbours.
March 23rd, 2007 22:25
South Africa’s silence throughout the shameful abuses that Robert Mugabe has perpetrated on Zimbabwe and its people will be the stain of shame that will forever mark the Mbeki administration. It seems Mr Mbeki values beign seen to be loyal to an old struggle comrade above all else - human rights included. I, for one, would be quite happy to see other African countries take the lead in censuring Mugabe - it might give the South African government pause for thought. Maybe SA is not (as the government seemingly believe) the most powerful country south of the Sahara just because the economy is apparently booming and we have been the golden child of the international community since 1994. To be a true leader, you need to lead by example, and the example that the Mbeki government has set has been a poor one indeed.
March 23rd, 2007 22:43
How encouraging. I hope this trend of criticism by African countries continues and actually results in action. People of Zimbabwe, our thoughts are with you!
March 24th, 2007 11:29
The Archbishop’s words are very encouraging - if such a coalition can be organised then there is hope that the man will be gone sooner than later.
March 25th, 2007 11:59
sekuru nyika yanzwa pedzanamo RGM zvapera ari kuwarwa…tsaka the end is not near but he is living in it and ZANU PF zimbabweans are now under political/presidential facism…
pamberi ne mudzimu/nyanga
March 27th, 2007 17:40
Jeanne, I think you are right and a few questions will be asked of the Mbeki government by a new Zimbabwean government. I often wonder how on earth they will explain themselves to a new government in our country when the day comes.
Sokari, the Archbishop is a truly good decent man. He is to me what Nelson Mandela is to South Africans. He is very brave.
We have to be encouraged and hopeful that there are changes in the pipeline.
Hope - Sokwanele activist
July 2nd, 2007 07:54
It’s very interesting indeed that it had to take Zambia once again to say it like it is, “Silent diplomacy has failed with Mugabeâ€. For all who have any length of memory, they would recall it was that butterfly shaped nation called Zambia Mwanawasa heads that liberated literally everyone in Southern Africa. Levy as president is merely only living to the nation’s expectations, the top dog in Southern Africa, leading the light weights like Mbeki, showing them the right way. After all, Thabo was a refugee in Zambia for 27 years, when Levy talks about failure of silent diplomacies, he should listen, attentively!
March 24th, 2007 09:16
The ANC Stands By Zanu-PF…
In a response to Whisper’s frustrations and to echo the postings of Commentary.za:
People should get it through their heads that South Africa has no ‘quiet diplomacy’ for Zimbabwe. The ANC supports Zanu-PF. It’s as simple and clear as that….