SA looks set to remain only option for tackling Zimbabwe crisis
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Harare — President Cyril Ramaphosa’s three envoys have come back into the picture as the only possible mediators to Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis after it emerged that the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) is unlikely to discuss the troubled country at its heads of state summit on Monday.
The envoys — Baleka Mbete, Sydney Mufamadi and Ngoako Ramatlhodi — are likely to return to Zimbabwe soon and meet opposition leaders after their damp-squib mission last week, when they held meetings with embattled President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Sunday, SA ambassador to Zimbabwe Mphakama Mbete hinted to Business Day that Ramaphosa’s envoys are expected to jet into Harare soon and will finally meet the opposition.
“I do not know of the day when they will come into the country. That decision will be announced by the presidency. When they do come, it is possible that they will meet the opposition because they failed to do so the first time,” he said.
Ramaphosa’s acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale did not respond to calls on Sunday.
However, international relations minister Naledi Pandor told an SA radio station on Friday that SA has to work with Zimbabwe to “reverse the current situation”.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of a political, economic and humanitarian crisis, with Mnangagwa’s government accused of human rights abuses and cracking down on critics.
At the weekend the Catholic bishops — the latest critics of Mnangagwa’s abuses who voiced support for the #ZimbabweLivesMatter social media campaign — received a chilling warning from the government amid fears they could be arrested.
Human rights activists say almost 100 government critics have been arrested since July 31, when the military and the police were deployed to quash nationwide demonstrations scheduled for the day.
It was widely expected that Sadc leaders would deliberate on the Zimbabwe crisis at Monday’s annual summit, but a draft agenda of the summit from the Sadc secretariat shows the issue will not be tabled.
On Friday, Zimbabwe's government also said it will not be on the agenda.
One of the items on the agenda says Mnangagwa, chair of the Sadc’s organ on politics, defence and security co-operation, will issue a report on his tenure and the security situation in the region and it is unlikely he will incriminate himself.
Some of the major issues on the agenda at the heads of state summit include election of Sadc chairs and deputy chairs, ...
The envoys — Baleka Mbete, Sydney Mufamadi and Ngoako Ramatlhodi — are likely to return to Zimbabwe soon and meet opposition leaders after their damp-squib mission last week, when they held meetings with embattled President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Sunday, SA ambassador to Zimbabwe Mphakama Mbete hinted to Business Day that Ramaphosa’s envoys are expected to jet into Harare soon and will finally meet the opposition.
“I do not know of the day when they will come into the country. That decision will be announced by the presidency. When they do come, it is possible that they will meet the opposition because they failed to do so the first time,” he said.
Ramaphosa’s acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale did not respond to calls on Sunday.
However, international relations minister Naledi Pandor told an SA radio station on Friday that SA has to work with Zimbabwe to “reverse the current situation”.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of a political, economic and humanitarian crisis, with Mnangagwa’s government accused of human rights abuses and cracking down on critics.
At the weekend the Catholic bishops — the latest critics of Mnangagwa’s abuses who voiced support for the #ZimbabweLivesMatter social media campaign — received a chilling warning from the government amid fears they could be arrested.
Human rights activists say almost 100 government critics have been arrested since July 31, when the military and the police were deployed to quash nationwide demonstrations scheduled for the day.
It was widely expected that Sadc leaders would deliberate on the Zimbabwe crisis at Monday’s annual summit, but a draft agenda of the summit from the Sadc secretariat shows the issue will not be tabled.
On Friday, Zimbabwe's government also said it will not be on the agenda.
One of the items on the agenda says Mnangagwa, chair of the Sadc’s organ on politics, defence and security co-operation, will issue a report on his tenure and the security situation in the region and it is unlikely he will incriminate himself.
Some of the major issues on the agenda at the heads of state summit include election of Sadc chairs and deputy chairs, ...
