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We must act now on Zim - Zuma

2008-11-24 11:40

Johannesburg - The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has gone beyond a wait-and-see approach, African National Congress president Jacob Zuma said on Monday.

Following a meeting with the elders' delegation who were refused entry into Zimbabwe, Zuma said the ANC would send representatives to Zimbabwe to met with Zanu-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change factions.

"The situation has just gone beyond a situation where we can say 'let us wait and see'. We have got to act and act now."

Zuma said the elders delegation - former US president Jimmy Carter, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and rights advocate Graca Machel - believed the situation in Zimbabwe was "very bad".

"They believe that things could collapse."

He said they had planned to go to Zimbabwe for humanitarian reasons. The refusal to allow them entry was an "unfortunate act".

"It does give an unfortunate picture."

Following the meeting with Zuma, the elders went into a meeting with President Kgalema Motlanthe.

- SAPA


Louis J vRvO 11/24/2008 11:56:49 AM
In a time of equal rights, human rights, democratic rights and...and...and...Africa is still trying to solve Africa's problems ... but with no success! First fill the coffer with money, riches, power et al ... then maybe help the people.

Gregg 11/24/2008 12:13:51 PM
About time that the SA Govt woke up - it is unbelievably frustrating being "stuck" at the bottom tip of Africa and feeling so helpless to affect the situation in Zim - especially when the SA govt appears to give tacit approval to Robert Mugabe - we all have blood on our hands and cant sit back any longer saying we did not know. But please, can someone give us something practical to do for them...how can we help?

victor 11/24/2008 12:18:27 PM
Every time you speak, you make so much sense.Zuma is indeed in touch with the feelings on the ground.Watch government will make same pronouncation.The media may try to devide the ANC through this Motlanthe v/s Zuma, it's not going to work.These are Polotical Strategist, they know the SAmedia will try to wedge a divide between them.The media deliberately misinterpret what Zuma says in hjis mother toungue and think people are stupid.Zuma will surprise many doubting Thomsis,evn the so called Analys.

Dawid 11/24/2008 12:22:25 PM
Nail them (Bob & Morgan)where it hurts: In their own pockets. Personal wealth is foremost on their minds. They also prooved that they have no compassion, sympathy for, or a desire to help their own people. Freeze their personal accounts and further dealings. Deny BOB access to any other country, foreign property or other assets that he accumulated over many years. Ban his family from UK where they live in luxury. Bleed the bastard into submission and stop this talking!

Vick 11/24/2008 12:26:11 PM
Zuma is no different from Mugabe neither is the current ANC different from Zuna PF.

TC 11/24/2008 12:26:33 PM
But, think back to 2003 when voices predicted that Migabe-madness will result in famine and death. Remember how the ANC choir chastised those voces as 'racist'! Well, that choir now has the death of thousands of Zimbabweans on their hands! Have they learnt something.....?

James 11/24/2008 12:27:18 PM
"It does give an unfortunate picture." This comment goes to show how spineless the ANC are. Just turn off the electricity and see what happens....Bob is lost....fullstop. Africa has no hope with the glorious leadership it continues to produce.

Jay Jay 11/24/2008 12:36:00 PM
JZ said the policy of quiet diplomacy will remain. Thabo Mbeki said there is not a crises in Zim although probably the rest of the world disagreed. SADC is also out of touch with reality and seems to back old "bob'. No crises can or will be resolved if the true reasons/causes are addressed. Failure to do so will lead to yet another African problem to be solved by others.

Wielies 11/24/2008 12:38:24 PM
"They believe that things could collapse." Can you believe this statement???? Come on elders... just turn on the news on tv or radion and you will be informed that everyting has already collapsed!!! How long does one have to wait? I reckon at least another 3-4 years... Pathetic...

BD 11/24/2008 12:45:31 PM
Do we want similar thinking people to rule our country? call it what you want!

Steven 11/24/2008 12:47:31 PM
Now the government wants to act -now that it is too late - just post a sign - that is how you fix all problems - 'Zim out of order'

Ulaka 11/24/2008 12:48:44 PM
Quiet Diplomacy - ha ha ha ha - Mbeki greatest mediator - Ha ha ha - African solution by africans - ha ha ha - Blame the West - ha ha ha. Totally brainless ANC - yes - Totally inept African Goverments - yes.

Franc 11/24/2008 12:49:16 PM
The elderly need your help and contributions urgently! www.sewood.co.za

koketso 11/24/2008 12:56:03 PM
I think is time that the south african goverment ensure that the sitiuation in Zimbabwe is solved with the help of other nations including the UN.Agreement must be reached between the two leaders of Zimbabwe.

Andrew 11/24/2008 12:57:44 PM
Zim collapsed ages ago! Action is long overdue. Perhaps these "leaders" should start acting rather than talking!!

Robert 11/24/2008 12:59:53 PM
Just another sparkling example of African leadership. Talk... talk... talk... but while those who occupy those seats eat and drink their fill they really don't care about anyone else! Anyone have an example of anything otherwise?

Robert 11/24/2008 1:00:59 PM
Um... I'll agree that Bob should be hammered, but I fail to see how Morgan should have to pay. Like him or hate him, he did win the election? Should Obama be made to form a unity government with Bush just because Bush refuses to leave office?

Tshepo 11/24/2008 1:03:15 PM
Too typical. i think as victor understood it, it was opportunity for Zuma to at least speak sometihng to get world approval as this is what Thabo Mbheki was not doing. Apart from doing what Thabo Mbheki was not doing, Zuma has no any vision whatsoever. No wonder he gets elavated so much by Victor as "Sense and Zuma" seldom make a same sentence. I'm not prepared to have Zuma as my president, President of South Africa, i'm sorry to say this.

Kal-El 11/24/2008 1:04:42 PM
On 12/09/2008 a very confused and disillusioned commentator, Mafutha, wrote a letter on this forum. He hailed the Zim deal as a VICTORY FOR AFRICA. Mafutha, I think it is time that you apologized for your extreme ANC-loyalist viewpoint which has proved to be terribly misguided and incorrect. Mbeki took 8 years of sitting around and waiting for something to happen. Do not ask me what he could have done ? There were many options but there should have been pressure, not friendship. Sanctions, not smiles. SA is a life line for Zim, so we had unique leverage to deal with the problem. Now the country has collapsed and people are suffering and dying. And still Mugabe has a grip on power! The wrongs of the past is still so fresh in our African history but still history repeats itself with oppression and dictatorship playing out in front of our eyes. I cannot help to think that Zuma says is saying what he thinks will make him more popular.

Mokonyane 11/24/2008 1:07:28 PM
JZ doesn't have to be your 1st choice, but if we put emotions aside, i think ZJ is very sober in his call and commends, we can only start celebrating once detailed plan is on the table as to what are we going to do to force the political leaders in Zim to sort of their differences. I honestly believe that there is more than can be done to solve the problem in Zim specifically by S African Government

Shiks 11/24/2008 1:12:36 PM
Must we sing mushini wam now! It will be nice if Zuma state the facts so that we understand what he is talking about. Zuma can not just say"we have to act now".

Harry 11/24/2008 1:12:58 PM
If what we see in Zimbabwe now is not a total collapse, I would like to see what Zuma or the three elders view as a collapse.

Tshepo 11/24/2008 1:23:34 PM
This is the problem with Zuma, he always states and not presribes. If u ask him how should we act on Zim, he would, predictably so, say it must be debated. Everytime everything have to be debated but never gets to be debated.Zuma suddenly wake up on Zim so strong just to score political points because if that was not the case, he would done so long time ago using his position in the ANC as he is doing.His so called supporters would be throwing parties and threatening people to celebrate that.

Fergie 11/24/2008 1:24:45 PM
Mugabe doesn't care about the people of Zim and the SA government finally woke up to this fact. If SA wants to change things in Zim they should send two divisions of troops to the Zim border with tanks and Air force. Mugabe thinks that no African government has the power to do anything and he just BS Mbeki when he comes there to talk.

ndumiso buthelezi 11/24/2008 1:25:05 PM
Finally a leader who can stand up 4 plp.Zuma u like a father to many of us we prayin that God puts zuma in his rightful place as president of South Africa.

Fergie 11/24/2008 1:25:09 PM
Mugabe doesn't care about the people of Zim and the SA government finally woke up to this fact. If SA wants to change things in Zim they should send two divisions of troops to the Zim border with tanks and Air force. Mugabe thinks that no African government has the power to do anything and he just BS Mbeki when he comes there to talk.

Tshepo 11/24/2008 1:27:17 PM
This is the problem with Zuma, he always states and not presribes. If u ask him how should we act on Zim, he would, predictably so, say it must be debated. Everytime everything have to be debated but never gets to be debated.Zuma suddenly wake up on Zim so strong just to score political points because if that was not the case, he would done so long time ago using his position in the ANC as he is doing.His so called supporters would be throwing parties and threatening people to celebrate that.

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