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Neighbours 'part of problem'
10/03/2007 18:23 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has slammed southern African countries as being part of Zimbabwe's political and economic problem.
His comments were seen as a reference to South Africa's reluctance to help end the crisis in its neighbouring country.
"Instead of being part of the solution they (the southern African development community) are part of the problem," the Movement for Democratic Change leader told the annual Foreign Correspondents Association dinner in Johannesburg on Friday evening.
South Africa is SADC's biggest economy and President Thabo Mbeki is considered the African leader with the most clout with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
"They are tacitly supporting Mugabe on issues where they know Mugabe is not right," Tsvangirai said, alluding to Mbeki's stated policy of "quiet diplomacy" with Harare.
"It's time they (SADC) came on board and spoke with one voice on issues in Zimbabwe," he added.
Economic meltdown a concern
The MDC leader was speaking days after Zambia called on SADC to tackle the issue of the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe through talks with Mugabe and the European Union, which has imposed sanctions on the country.
This week also saw the publication of a report by the influential international crisis group think-thank pointing to rifts within Mugabe's ZANU-PF party as representing a "realistic change...to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis."
Inflation is running at 1 700% in Zimbabwe and unemployment at around 80%
The divisions with ZANU-PF have emerged over Mugabe's bid to extend his term as president by changing the constitution to allow for presidential elections in 2010 instead of 2008. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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