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Mbeki considering Zim action
14/05/2008 16:20 - (SA)
Pretoria - A report by six former SA National Defence Force generals might lead to action being taken to address the violence in Zimbabwe, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said on Wednesday.
He said President Thabo Mbeki was waiting for a report from the Generals on the violence before considering appropriate action.
"If there is any substantiation of the violence coming from the Generals' report and other reports, then it is up to the facilitator to see how he deals with this and get the agreement of all parties (on how) we will take steps to end any violence that is being perpetrated," Pahad said.
He was briefing reporters at Parliament on the work of government's International Relations Peace and Security cluster, saying the former Generals were expected to report back to Mbeki this week.
They were sent by Mbeki to investigate claims of increasing violence in the country following the March 29 election in the country.
President Robert Mugabe is pitched against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a run-off election, at a date yet to be announced, after Tsvangirai won the first round - but not with the required 50% majority.
Both parties have claimed that the other's supporters were involved in post-election violence, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in which the run-off cannot take place.
In the meantime, Pahad said it was important that election observers be deployed in Zimbabwe in "large numbers" to help ensure a smooth run-off election.
He said that the Southern African Development Community and other observer teams should have an "effective presence" on the ground which would help ensure a peaceful run-off election.
"If they can be sufficient, that will help us to be confident that in the end everybody will accept (the outcome)," he said.
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