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Mbeki has Tsvangirai's support
02/04/2007 15:40 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday gave his full backing to South African President Thabo Mbeki as mediator of the Zimbabwe political crisis.
Mbeki was tasked as mediator last week by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg, Tsvangirai said Mbeki's past approaches on the Zimbabwe issue should not be held against him as he was now acting on behalf of the SADC region and not South Africa.
Tsvangirai said: "There had been moments where people have doubted whether President Mbeki is an honest broker or not but that is immaterial.
"We are talking of a new initiative which is not SA-driven but which is regional driven.
"The whole region is behind President Mbeki. Mbeki is not taking his own individual interests."
'A new perspective'
Mbeki has in the past been criticised for his "quiet diplomacy" towards Zimbabwe.
In 2004 his efforts to hold negotiations with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe failed.
Tsvangirai added: "In 2004, it was Mugabe who scuttled the talks because he was not interested in any negotiation or solution.
"Mbeki must approach this matter with a new perspective and must be wary not to be led into a garden path by Mugabe pretending to be going through some process with intentions of scuttling talks"
Tsvangirai was in South Africa to visit a doctor following his beating by police last month.
The political situation in Zimbabwe has been tense since Tsvangirai and several opposition leaders were beaten while in police custody last month following their arrest at a rally.
- SAPA
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