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Zim situation 'deteriorating'
13/02/2003 23:11 - (SA)
Christi van der Westhuizen, Beeld
Cape Town - Unlike perceptions held by South Africa and Nigeria's heads of state, the situation in Zimbabwe has not improved, but has shown serious deterioration since 2000.
Speaking his mind about the situation on Thursday, was Moeletsi Mbeki, executive deputy director of the South African Institute for International Affairs and brother of President Thabo Mbeki.
He declined to elaborate on reasons why the South African government believes the situation in Zimbabwe has improved.
His remarks follow on Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's confirmation that South Africa and Nigeria are convinced Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth should be lifted.
Moeletsi Mbeki said while Obasanjo was well aware that an MDC member of parliament had been subjected to torture, he was still insisting the situation has improved.
Reasons for him taking this stance could be because Zimbabwe does not pose an immediate problem to Nigeria as a result of geographic distances between the countries; Nigeria's attention is distracted by the civil war in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia; Obasanjo's attention is focussed on the upcoming Nigerian elections; and regular inter-religious violence plaguing Nigeria, Moeletsi Mbeki said.
He declined to explain South Africa's stance.
Responding to possibilities available to South Africa in acting against Zimbabwe, Moeletsi Mbeki said Zimbabweans supporting the MDC have asked the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to invoke sanctions similar to those imposed by the European Union.
Intensifying violence
Directors of South African companies with interests in Zimbabwe told him (Moeletsi Mbeki) the situation in Zimbabwe is heading for full-scale civil war. It appears that ruling Zanu-PF intends intensifying violence between their supporters and alleged MDC supporters.
Reports by the Zimbabwean human rights organisation also suggests the situation is deteriorating.
Sapa reported that Kenya became the first African country to support Australia when its foreign affairs minister, Kalonzoe Musyoka, said Zimbabwe's suspension can only be lifted at the earliest during the Commonwealth summit to be held at the end of the year.
The US, who is not a member country of the Commonwealth, has come out in support of Australia. This follows on remarks made by US foreign secretary General Colin Powell, saying that Mugabe was pushing Zimbabwe closer to the brink of disaster in every conceivable way.
- Beeld
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