15 July 2007
The South African Government has noted media reports suggesting the Southern
African Development Community (SADC)-led mediation process in Zimbabwe has all
but collapsed. Nothing is further from the truth.
The South African government puts it on record that there is no shred of
truth in the suggestion that President Robert Mugabe has spurned the SADC-led
facilitation process as reported in the weekend media. Accordingly, the SADC
facilitation process between Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), under the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki, remains on course.
The government rejects the falsehood peddled in the media that President
Mugabe has "ordered his key party negotiators to boycott negotiations that were
supposed to resume in Pretoria this week."
The Zanu-PF delegation could not attend the scheduled discussions in
Pretoria this week due to prior engagements and for this they tendered an
apology to the South African government. In this regard, efforts are under way
to set a new date for the facilitation talks in which the Zanu-PF delegation
will attend.
Whilst the government appreciates the keen media interest in the Zimbabwean
facilitation process, the government cautions the media from peddling
falsehoods that will only help subtract rather than add to the momentum of
helping find a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean situation.
Accordingly, whatever South Africans do, they ought to ask the question
whether this will advance or deter the cause of facilitation in Zimbabwe. For
its part the government remains committed to the mandate of SADC to assist the
people of Zimbabwe in their endeavour to find a solution to their political and
economic challenges.
For further information, please contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
15 July 2007
