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DA wants Zim/SA explanations
11/07/2007 19:23 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Department of Foreign Affairs must explain why a bilateral agreement, which could protect South African investments in Zimbabwe, had not been signed yet, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday.
Tony Leon, DA spokesperson on foreign affairs, said the minister of the department, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, should be called before the Portfolio Committee on foreign affairs to explain why the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (Bippa) had not yet been signed.
In a letter to the chairperson of the committee, Job Sithole, the former party leader said the Bippa agreement would have protected South African investments and interests in Zimbabwe and would have prevented many South African-owned farms from being expropriated.
"She must explain what steps, if any, the Department is taking to safeguard the interests of South African nationals and commercial entities in Zimbabwe," he said.
Leon said that Zimbabwe was on the brink of an "economic and political meltdown".
"The Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) government has ordered that prices be slashed, and that those business people who do not comply with this ruinous demand must be arrested and charged," he said.
Economic interests
He said because of the arrests of some South African business owners and the compulsory lowering of prices, business and ongoing production processes would soon be unsustainable.
Leon said the Bippa between Zimbabwe and South Africa had been ready for signature for five years.
"Therefore, the DA requests that an urgent meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs be convened in order to receive and interrogate the Minister of Foreign Affairs and relevant officials of her Department," he said.
He said the ongoing economic crisis and "malaise" in Zimbabwe would directly affect the Southern African Development Community region and South Africa's economic interests.
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