The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
Floyd Nkomo
9 May 2008
South African President Thabo Mbeki will travel to Zimbabwe on Friday to meet President Robert Mugabe and political leaders, in his role as mediator for the Southern African Development Community, to discuss the current situation in the country.
"During his visit President Mbeki is expected to interact with the Zimbabwean political leadership," Ronnie Mamoepa, a spokesman for South Africa's department of foreign affairs, said on Thursday.
President Mbeki's visit comes on the heels of a delegation he tasked to investigate incidents of political violence in Zimbabwe.
Mamoepa did not say whether President Mbeki will hold discussions with Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai who is believed to have sought refuge in neighbouring Botswana.
Tsvangirai had indicated that he would be returning home by end of this week. It is not clear whether he is already in the country or not.
The newly appointed Tsvangirai spokesman, George Sibotshiwe, said the MDC have not been officially informed that President Mbeki will meet with the party.
"We know he (Mbeki) is meeting President Robert Mugabe. But we have no official communication that he is going to meet with the MDC or its leadership," Sibotshiwe said.
Mamoepa declined to name the political leaders he would meet nor details of the planned meeting.
It is likely that he will hold discussions with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's head, George Chiweshe to discuss a run-off election date and the modalities of that election--including difficulties around recruitment of election officials, security and the cost of the run-off election.
President Mbeki is also likely to meet key service (security) chiefs to discuss the incidents of violence in the country.
"Mbeki will meet with the country's political leadership in the context of his Southern African Development Community (Sadc)-mandated facilitation process," said Mamoepa in a formal statement he issued, quoted by SAPA.
Regional leaders last month in Lusaka called on President Mbeki to continue his mission as chief mediator between Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition following the elections.
This will be President Mbeki's first official visit to Zimbabwe since his mediation mandate was renewed at an Extraordinary Summit in Zambia last month.
The MDC has, however, asked for President Mbeki to be removed by the Sadc regional bloc as mediator and have their preferred choice--Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa--as mediator.
Meanwhile, the MDC is said to have reiterated their desire not to contest a run-off election, and have Tsvangirai declared the outight winner. This call was made by Tendai Biti, the party's secretary general, in Johannesburg South Africa.
Biti is also wanted by Zimbabwe police for questioning with regards to an annoucement he made that Morgan Tsvangirai was the new President of Zimbabwe. He also faces police questioning on allegations of incitement of violence.
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What a waste of SA taxpayer's money. Mbeki has been toing and froing and what has he achieved in the given time? The only stance is for African Countries to isolate Zim violence is unacceptable no matter who the perpetrator is. This pussy footing around a corrupt violent regime where the rule of law means naught should come to a halt
How many times must Mbeki negotiate between ZANU-PF and the Opposition parties of Zimbabwe, specifically MDC? Can`t the African leaders (SADC and AU)see that it is above the level of Mr.Mbeki that`s why nothing happened thus far.My question is , is there a goverment in Zimbabwe or not? Because the incumbent President and party was defeated in the elections and UN Interim goverment must take over until the matter is resolved. This is a test to African leaders to see whether they understand a democratic system and so far failed. SADC and AU must protect the life of Mr. Tsivangirai… [Read Full Text]
The first election results must be released whatever the condition they may look so that the world may see and know the true. Truth does not need to be protected or covered it speaks for its self. If there was a fault let us see what faults were detected by the commission. Why should they refuse to publicize to the public the owners of the votes? Is this free, fair and transparent elections or is it an autocratic rule impose upon the people. Why should people live in fear if elections are free and fair? Some African states has missed… [Read Full Text]
Lets imagine we are Mr Mbeki....We know we are dealing with a mad man.....What are your options? If you are the only one that mad person will talk to or trust from the outside world how can you convince him he's mad.......You can not shout at him and say hes mad (because mad people do not know they are mad) you can of course ignore them and hope sanity will come back or you can use force and capture them and medicate them but this is a very grey area......How parniod is Mugabe now his people have voted against him......His… [Read Full Text]
Mbeki can talk all he wants but unless he has a degree in psychiatry he's not really going to get anywhere is he... You cannot convince scared insane men not to adopt their natural instict of violence (the FLight or Fight instinct)... So lets see Mugabe knows he's wanted for criminal acts against humanity along with his merry men what are they going to do run away which is what we were all hoping they would like Grace has or fight which is what they are doing....Perhaps the understanding of the fear is the first step and then removing it… [Read Full Text]