Southern Africa: Quiet Diplomacy Replaced with a More Direct Approach

"Quiet diplomacy", the mantra used by former South African president Thabo Mbeki in his dealings with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, appears to have fallen by the wayside and been replaced with a more no-nonsense approach. The two-day visit on 27 and 28 August by South African President Jacob Zuma to the country's troubled northern neighbour was characterized by a marked difference in style. Mbeki, appointed as mediator by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to resolve Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis, was seen by analysts as indulging Mugabe; Zuma was more direct.

After opening Zimbabwe's 99th agricultural show in the capital, Harare, Zuma dismissed statements ahead of his visit by Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba, that his presence was only ceremonial. Mbeki was not part of the visit. "I visited Zimbabwe in my capacity as President of South Africa, as well as in my capacity as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, both of which are guarantors of the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA)," he said.

The agreement was signed in September 2008 by Mugabe's ZANU-PF, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and now Prime Minister, and Arthur Mutambara, leader of an MDC faction, which facilitated the formation of a unity government in February 2009. "I decided to use the opportunity of opening the Harare Agricultural Show to meet the esteemed leaders of political parties to ascertain progress with regards to the implementation of the Global Political Agreement," Zuma said. He held closed-door discussions with Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

The progress of the unity government has been tortured. ZANU-PF has stalled on implementing some aspects of the GPA, among them the appointment without consultation of the reserve bank governor and the attorney general, and Mugabe's refusal to swear in provincial governors, or a white former commercial farmer, Roy Bennett, as deputy minister of agriculture. "For this [economic recovery] to happen, it is absolutely necessary that the Global Political Agreement be fully implemented without delay," Zuma said.

ZANU-PF has complained that the MDC has not done enough to convince Western countries to lift sanctions imposed mainly against the ZANU-PF elite. The US and Britain, the former colonial power, have said sanctions would be lifted once there was respect for human rights and democracy. "We are aware that some economic development partners and donor countries have put some benchmarks to be met before they can extend assistance, and currently only offer humanitarian assistance," Zuma said in his speech at the agricultural show. "The achievement of an effective recovery is also dependent on the removal of sanctions and other measures that hold back economic development."

A senior ZANU-PF official, who declined to be identified, told IRIN: "We are a party with a long history of negotiating and we have certainly worn down the MDC - of course, we cannot negotiate ourselves out of power." However, a senior MDC official, who declined to be identified, told IRIN: "Zuma did get some concessions from Mugabe that certain provisions of the coalition deal would have been implemented by the time the [SADC] summit is held. Very soon there will be some developments."

A two-day SADC summit begins on 7 September in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. "This will provide an opportunity to review progress in the implementation of the agreement, and for the countries of Southern Africa to reaffirm their commitment to assisting Zimbabwe," Zuma said. Zimbabwe to work together to remove any remaining obstacles to the implementation of the agreement. The parties are agreed on the need to speed up implementation and to find lasting solutions to the current points of disagreements. The important factor is that there was commitment among all parties, which make the movement forward possible," he pointed out.

Human Rights Watch, a global watchdog, noted in a report released on 31 August, False Dawn: The Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Government's Failure to Deliver Human Rights Improvements, "There is mounting evidence that the new government is failing or unwilling to end serious human rights violations, restore the rule of law, institute fundamental rights reforms, and chart a new political direction for the country." The report also noted that "ZANU-PF retains control of all senior ministries, including the Ministries of Defence, Justice, State Security, and Foreign Affairs; and it co-chairs Home Affairs. The party therefore wields significantly more power than the MDC in the government, and is unwilling to institute human rights and governance reforms." Georgette Gagnon, Africa director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement: "The region's leaders [at the SADC summit] need to press Zimbabwe openly and publicly for human rights reforms to prevent the country from backsliding into state-sponsored violence and chaos."

Source: All Africa

Zimbabwe: Zuma to Intervene in Crisis

South African President Jacob Zuma is expected in Zimbabwe next week to douse flames in the country's coalition government amid intensifying arrests of legislators from the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Ten MPs from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party were detained on Wednesday for allegedly causing disturbances at Finance Ministry offices. Several MDC legislators have been arrested over petty crimes in recent months, prompting Mr Tsvangirai to call for Mr Zuma's intervention to solve the problems that threaten to derail the seven month old unity government.

Mr Zuma is the current chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which along the African Union (AU) are guarantors of Zimbabwe's September 15 power sharing agreement.

Zimbabwe's crisis is also expected to dominate the SADC annual summit set for the Democratic of Congo early next month.

Source: All Africa

Zimbabwe: Minister Mhashu Robbed in South Africa

National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Fidelis Mhashu was assaulted and robbed at gun-point in South Africa, while on a visit to the home of businessman and friend Mutumwa Mawere. The incident immediately raised the ire of South African authorities, who accused the minister of not following protocol and notifying them of his trip. Police chiefs say this would have enabled them to offer him VIP protection in the country.

It's reported that armed men burst into Mawere's house on Friday, in the posh Bryanston suburb north of Johannesburg. "They were having supper when a number of men with guns entered the house, tied them up, assaulted them and demanded money," national police crime intelligence spokesman Tumi Golding said. The robbers made off with jewellery, money and electronic goods. Mhashu meanwhile received treatment for injuries sustained and was discharged from hospital on Saturday.

With South Africa battling to control high crime levels ahead of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the robbery involving a senior Zimbabwean government official once again puts the country in the spotlight. Furious police officials sought to blame the Minister for not having requested protection. "We are concerned that he came into this country without following protocol, if any minister comes into the country he must register with the South African government and we will be tasked into protecting him," police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said.

In February last year Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, then still an opposition leader, was held up by three armed men who followed him from the international airport in Johannesburg. The gang attacked Tsvangirai just outside the MDC offices in Bryanston. Reports said he had just arrived from Zimbabwe with his then spokesman George Sibotshiwe and two other aides. The armed gang drew out their weapons and robbed the entourage of their money, laptops, cellphones, luggage and a file of documents.

Source: All Africa

Tsvangirai: Foreign journalists free to report in Zim

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday that foreign journalists are free to report in the troubled southern African nation where many have previously been banned and others arrested and harassed.

The veteran opposition leader who formed a coalition with longtime President Robert Mugabe in February said continuing violations of the power-sharing deal threaten the unity government, but insisted that progress has been made.

Tsvangirai deplored recent arrests of independent journalists and lawyers and called for a "new culture of respect".

He said a new state media commission would be formed to "facilitate the opening up of media space".

Stringent licensing of local and foreign journalists that effectively banned most foreign news organisations from entering the country had ceased to apply under the coalition agreement, he said.

Journalists and media organisations no longer are legally obliged to apply for accreditation until a new media commission is in place, Tsvangirai said.

Source: Mail & Guardian

Human Rights Watch Urges Government Of Zimbabwe To Respect Human Rights While Restoring Order

Human Rights Watch called upon the government of Zimbabwe to refrain from using excessive force against protesters in Harare.

On Tuesday January 20, President Mugabe announced that he had ordered army troops into Harare in order to quell the unrest which were initially sparked by rising food prices. Minister of Home Affairs Dumiso Dabenga was quoted on International Television News (ITN) as saying: "The deployed army personnel have not been trained to use batons like the police, and they will be carrying arms and live ammunition and will not hesitate to shoot any people who are likely trouble-causers." Other sources in Harare interviewed by Human Rights Watch stated that police and army had beaten people in the street as well as after taking them into custody.

Witnesses in Harare told Human Rights Watch that military helicopters were used to indiscriminately dispense teargas in black townships in an apparent effort to quell protests. Sources in Harare also claimed that the police had used live ammunition on protesters.

The current public unrest follows closely on the heels of similar major protests last month. On December 9, 1997, violence erupted in Harare during a labor demonstration attended by tens of thousands of protesters. According to media reports, military helicopters, tear gas, and police clubs were used to disperse the demonstrators. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary-General Morgan Tsvangirai, one of the main organizers of the labor protest, was reportedly beaten in his office two days after the protest by unknown assailants.

Source: Human Rights Watch