ZINGISILE MAPAZI, Johannesburg | Wednesday
PART of the crisis currently taking place in Zimbabwe emanated from wrong economic policies over the past two decades, President Thabo Mbeki said on Tuesday.
He told guests at the launch of the Centre for Education in Economics and Finance Africa in Johannesburg that, likewise, the rampant lawlessness taking place in South Africa and the entire continent had more to do with the much desired economic changes.
”Whatever is taking place — the disparities, sexism, horrible crimes –these all emanate from historical economic imbalances,” Mbeki said.
The largest number of murder cases taking place in SA were by poor people against one another, he said.
”It can be a police and justice matter, but economic education is the only long term solution.”
The president challenged the country’s economic communities to play a leading role in, not only educating fellow South Africans, but in ensuring economic prosperity in the continent which, without sound economic footing, faced a danger of being thrown back by a generation.
Mbeki said the ”huge conflict” within the tripartite alliance over the government’s economic policies, only existed in the media.
He said he was not aware of it.
He said that on Friday he would be doing a political overview of the country during the African National Congress’ national executive meeting.
The high profile gathering was attended by the country’s leading economic and political figures, including Ministers Trevor Manuel of Finance and Membathisi Mdladlana of Labour and Mbeki’s economic advisors. – Sapa
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