SA starts moving on Zimbabwe
5 April 2007Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad has reaffirmed South Africa's stance of constructive dialogue between all parties as the only solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Speaking to reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday, Pahad said that steps were already being taken to get the Zimbabwean government, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and other parties to engage in talks.
President Thabo Mbeki was recently mandated by Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to facilitate dialogue between the government and opposition in Zimbabwe.
On Wednesday, a South African delegation met two MDC secretary-generals who are in the country.
"The two secretary-generals will produce a discussion document on the MDC's position, on the basis that President Mbeki will engage the Zimbabwean government on the recommendations from the MDC," Pahad said.
"President Mbeki will have to work out his own roadmap on how he wishes to fulfill his mandate to create the climate conducive for the two parties to meet to deal with the issues raised by the factions of the MDC."
In addition to Mbeki's efforts, the SADC leaders mandated their executive secretary with undertaking a study of the situation in Zimbabwe and proposing measures on how the region could assist the country with its economic recovery.
They also encouraged diplomatic contacts that would assist with the resolution of the conflict.
"The summit reiterated the appeal to Britain to honour its compensation obligations with regards to land reform made at the Lancaster House and called for the lifting of all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe," Pahad said.
The deputy minister noted the meeting of the ruling Zanu-PF Central Committee last week, which decided that President Robert Mugabe would be its presidential candidate for Zimbabwe's 2008 presidential elections, and that parliamentary elections would be held at the same time.
Pahad said the SADC and the international community had to intensify their efforts to ensure that the necessary conditions were created for free and fair elections.
"To ensure that the necessary climate is created, all Zimbabweans must act with restraint and within the rule of law," Pahad added.
The deputy minister stressed that South Africa would not support any regime change in Zimbabwe as a means of resolving the political and economic crisis there.
Source: BuaNews
