in Zimbabwe and its political, economic and social consequences for Zimbabwe,
South Africa and the Southern African region
28 March 2007
Madame Speaker
Honourable Ministers and Honourable members
It is very important that this subject has been placed on the agenda this
afternoon. It will provide us with the opportunity to state our views on the
matter and to state for the record the South African government's position with
regard to Zimbabwe and the crisis that that country is facing.
Having said that, it is a pity that this debate is taking place today. The
reason that I say this is that two very important meetings will be taking place
in the next few days, and decisions from these meetings would have a material
bearing on this debate.
The first is the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) leaders in Tanzania tomorrow, preceded by meeting of the SADC
Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. President Mbeki is, as we speak,
travelling to attend both meetings, accompanied by my colleague, Deputy
Minister Pahad. The items for discussion at these meetings will be the
conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Zimbabwe. Developments in
Lesotho will also be discussed.
The meeting, I am informed, will also be attended by President Mugabe.
The second meeting of importance to this debate is the Central Committee
meeting of the ruling party of Zimbabwe which is due to take place on Friday.
At this meeting ZANU-PF are due to discuss the important issue of the
convergence of the parliamentary with the presidential elections. A decision is
expected to be taken on whether to hold the elections simultaneously rather
than two years apart as is the case currently.
We will therefore have to await the outcome of these important meetings.
Nevertheless, in the context of the current situation in Zimbabwe, which is
one of the reasons for the Extraordinary SADC meeting, it is important that we
state South Africa's established policy with regard to Zimbabwe.
We believe that it is first and foremost the responsibility of the
Zimbabweans to resolve the problems that they are facing. We further believe
that, as neighbours, we have the responsibility to encourage and assist them to
find solutions.
Today, as in the past, our President, many of our Ministers and officials
have had, and continue to have contact with political leaders in Zimbabwe from
the ruling party as well as with opposition leaders from both factions of the
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
In all our discussions, the Zimbabweans themselves have encouraged us to
continue to engage with them. The principle demand that all elements of the
political leadership in Zimbabwe have made of us is to encourage all sides to
engage in dialogue. This is what the Zimbabweans have asked us to do.
We believe that anyone genuinely interested in the resolution of the
problems of Zimbabwe must listen to what the Zimbabwean leadership is
saying.
Furthermore, we are convinced that violence will not solve the problems of
the country.
Last week, my colleague, Deputy Minister Pahad issued a statement on behalf
of Foreign Affairs, in which he condemned the recent violence in that country
and called for the respect for the rule of law and for the human rights of all
citizens to be upheld. This is not a new position of South Africa, it is the
position we have always taken. This has been reiterated by our President and
our Ministers on numerous occasions.
We are constantly made aware of messages regarding Zimbabwe that come from
regional groups such as the European Union, as well as individual countries.
The difference between their position and ours relates to geography. The only
thing that separates us in South Africa from Zimbabwe is the Limpopo River,
whereas many of the messages we hear come from far further afield. We in South
Africa, as neighbours will carry the consequences of anything that happens in
Zimbabwe and this fact is fundamental to our approach.
It is in the interests of South African citizens that we not abandon our
responsibility to Zimbabwe and that we act responsibly in working towards a
resolution to the crisis across our border. This responsibility includes
encouraging them to resolve the crisis and not to intensify the conflict.
In this we are guided by our own national considerations of what is in our
best interests as a country and as a region. The solution needs ultimately to
be owned by the people of that country so that it is sustainable in the long
term.
This is our position.
The title of the debate today refers to the current deteriorating situation
in Zimbabwe and its consequences for us and the region. I will therefore speak
to some of the factors that are influencing that situation and its effects on
us and the region.
We have spoken before about the complex nature and the origins of the crisis
gripping our neighbouring sister country of Zimbabwe.
We have spoken also of our common wish that Zimbabwe gets out of this crisis
both for the sake primarily of the people of Zimbabwe but also in the interests
of our shared neighbourhood. We acknowledge that our efforts at implementing
the programme of the renewal of our continent are made poorer when Zimbabwe
cannot make her full contribution.
We have always approached the situation in Zimbabwe with no sense of
arrogance; we have equally avoided the temptation of focusing on competing with
others outside Zimbabwe on who will shout loudest or trade the worst insults
against the leadership of Zimbabwe.
What has guided us all along as I have said, is the genuine interest in the
advancement of a truly durable peace and vibrant, political and economic
activity which we continue to believe is essentially what the people of
Zimbabwe desire and deserve.
The latest political developments in Zimbabwe, including the arrests,
detention and assaults of senior opposition leaders are a major cause for
concern.
The South African Government wishes to stress its concern, disappointment
and disapproval of the measures undertaken by the security forces in dealing
with the political protests.
The current Zimbabwean situation is a manifestation of the absence of open
political dialogue, which is regrettably sinking the country into a deeper
political and economic crisis, from which only Zimbabweans can extricate
themselves.
As other experiences have demonstrated, punitive measures or any other
action that would constitute the erosion of the independence and sovereignty of
Zimbabwe, such as those contemplated by certain countries will continue to
exacerbate the problem, further deepening the political and economic situation
faced by Zimbabweans. Indeed we have noted the collateral damage that some of
these measures have caused, namely, the sharpening of political contradictions
and the economic hardship that has been visited upon the people of
Zimbabwe.
The South African government has and will always insist that the only viable
and sustainable solution to political and socio-economic challenges faced by
Zimbabwe lies in an all inclusive dialogue by Zimbabweans. The correctness of
this thesis has been confirmed by recent statements by the Secretary General of
the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon, and the Chair of the African Union (AU)
Commission Mr Alpha Omar Konare, which have underscored the importance of
political dialogue as a means through which Zimbabwean problems should be
resolved.
In our discussions with the Zimbabweans we have always implored them to
institute an all inclusive political dialogue. We have done so informed by our
own experience and by our understanding of the complex political problems faced
by this sister country. Our advice was given with due regard to the sovereignty
and independence of Zimbabwe and also in recognition of the right of its people
to determine its future. We will continue to avail ourselves to assist in any
manner that the Zimbabweans deem appropriate in order to help them out of this
crisis.
The South African government, guided by the SADC Social Charter and the
African Union Constitutive Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights, urges the Zimbabwean government to ensure that the rule of law and the
human rights of the Zimbabwean citizens are respected.
The South African Government calls on the Zimbabwean Government to create a
climate conducive for political dialogue. We also call upon the opposition to
participate unreservedly in efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the
current situation faced by the people of Zimbabwe.
In the run up to the Presidential elections, it is important that the main
political protagonists agree on a framework that would guarantee the
credibility of these elections. This is important in view of the fact that the
outcomes of the last two presidential elections were contested.
We firmly believe that respect for human rights and the rule of law, and an
initiation of an enduring political process will pave the way for the
resolution of Zimbabwean problems. This will lay a solid foundation for
political stability, economic revival and social cohesion as well as enable
Zimbabwe to occupy its rightful place in the community of nations.
Without pre-empting the outcome of the SADC Summit that is currently
underway in Dar--es-Salaam, we can expect SADC to support the process of
bringing about the political stability and ameliorating the economic hardships
which, if not attended to, could have dire consequences, not just for Zimbabwe
but for the entire region. At the same time we call upon the international
community to join and support the efforts of SADC in bringing about a lasting
solution to the Zimbabwe problem.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
28 March 2007
