Emmerson Muchangwe
30 March 2007
South African President Thabo Mbeki has been mandated to spearhead the promotion of dialogue among political parties in Zimbabwe.
Heads of state and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed Mbeki to the role on Thursday, at the close of their two-day extraordinary summit in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Releasing a joint communique, which was adopted by all 10 heads of state at the meeting, the leaders expressed concern over the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said Mbeki would work closely with the SADC's sub-troika in charge of defence, security and peace, which Kikwete chairs.
Kikwete said the southern African leaders strongly appealed to the political parties in Zimbabwe to co-operate and give the peace initiative a chance to work, and called on the international community to help Zimbabwe to return to normal.
The leaders also felt that Zimbabwe's economic situation should not be left to deteriorate any further, and tasked the SADC secretary general with analysing the situation and advising on a positive way forward.
South Africa has long expressed a stance of collective action towards resolving the crisis of its northern neighbour.
"South Africa cannot act independently to bring about a solution on the situation in Zimbabwe or any other country," South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told reporters in Cape Town on Tuesday.
"We must work with the Southern African Development Community or the African Union, if that country is in Africa."
Pahad, who accompanied Mbeki to the SADC summit, emphasised South Africa's position that the only solution for Zimbabwe was constructive dialogue between all parties.
Earlier this month, the South African government joined the international community in condemning violence against opposition members in Zimbabwe, including the assault on Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Source: BuaNews / NNN
