Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in Zimbabwe are
erroneous
12 July 2007
Pretoria: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted with concern media
reports suggesting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has
called on SADC to intervene in the Zimbabwean situation. Nothing is further
from the truth.
During a joint press conference between Minister Dlamini Zuma and Italian
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D'Alema held at
the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Tuesday, 10 July, a question was
posed on whether the two principals were concerned about the economic situation
in Zimbabwe.
In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma responded as follows, "We are
concerned about the situation generally in Zimbabwe including the economic
situation which has been deteriorating over time and it is in part for the
reason that SADC has decided that there must be some discussion and
reconciliation because it is very difficult to rebuild an economy in a country
where there is a serious divide and polarisation."
Rather than calling for a new SADC initiative on Zimbabwe, Minister Dlamini
Zuma was reiterating the decision of the SADC Summit held in Tanzania in March
this year which mandated President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between Zimbabwe
African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC), whilst further mandating the SADC Executive Secretary
to look into the economic situation in Zimbabwe.
Accordingly, the suggestion that Minister Dlamini Zuma called for SADC to
intervene in Zimbabwe is erroneous and misleading. Minister Dlamini Zuma has
confidence in the current SADC initiative on Zimbabwe.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 July 2007
