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'SA elite an obstacle in Zim'
19/04/2007 19:09 - (SA)
PRETORIA April 19 Sapa
South Africa's political elite is an obstacle in the quest to save Zimbabwe from collapsing, political analyst Moeletsi Mbeki said on Wednesday.
"Only... poor people will be affected by Zimbabwe's collapse," he said in an Africa Dialogue lecture in Pretoria.
Mbeki criticised his brother President Thabo Mbeki's approach of quiet diplomacy with regard to Zimbabwe, saying: "It's a do nothing scenario. However you appear to be doing a lot."
Moeletsi Mbeki sits on boards of various organisations.
He said the national interest of South Africans as opposed to that of the elite was to see the Zimbabwe's economy restored and its people employed, well fed and well housed.
Despite the president's quiet diplomacy, South Africa faced a lot of pressure from Western countries and most South Africans over Zimbabwe.
"They (Western countries) are sensitive to abuse of human rights as they helped fight apartheid, and the people of South Africa want government to do something on the human rights issues," Mbeki said.
President Mbeki was last month chosen by the Southern African Development Community as mediator for the crisis in Zimbabwe.
On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said South Africa could not perform magic to solve the problems in Zimbabwe.
When asked what advice he would give his older brother in handling the Zimbabwe issue, Moeletsi Mbeki -- whose name means one who gives advice or guidance -- said: "I think the South African government needs to show a lot more energy in dissuading [Zimbabwe ruling party] Zanu PF from brutalising the opposition party.
"We need to send a message across to the Zanu PF that an opposition in a democratic country has a right to exist and has the right to participate in activities."
Mbeki also criticised South Africa's black economic empowerment policy saying it benefited only the elite and not the masses.
- SAPA
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