Harare | Tuesday
ZIMBABWE’S state-owned press rounded on Monday on neighbouring South Africa, accusing President Thabo Mbeki of “betrayal” for reported criticism of President Robert Mugabe’s government and policies.
In a strongly worded editorial, the government daily the Herald said that the country felt betrayed that Mbeki had joined “the fight against Zimbabwe” alongside “architects of apartheid” and former colonial power Britain.
The Harare government distanced itself from the editorial, saying it could only attribute views to Mbeki if it had been officially told of them. A senior South African official told that country’s Sunday Times that Mbeki had warned that Mugabe should no longer expect protection as the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe deepened.
Mbeki “wants Mugabe to know that he should not expect protection any more. Up to now we have rallied behind him,” the South African paper quoted the official as saying.
The South African president’s patience was “wearing thin”, another official said. Both asked not to be named.
Mbeki also urged Malawi’s President Bakili Muluzi, the chairman of the Southern African Development Community, to convene a special task team on Zimbabwe, the Sunday Times said. “President Mbeki’s alleged utterances neatly dovetail into Britain’s grand plan for a global coalition against Zimbabwe similar to the one adopted by America in its fight against terrorism in Afghanistan,” the Herald responded. “A clear pattern is now emerging of a build up against Zimbabwe and South Africa’s complicity in the plot to overthrow the ruling Zanu-PF (Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front) government from power,” the editorial added. “What is even worse and a bit sickening is how President Mbeki is reported to be in the same bed with the same architects of apartheid … in the fight against Zimbabwe,” the paper said. It accused the South African leader of mobilising other countries in the region for an international “onslaught” on Zimbabwe. Responding to the report, the South African government said it opposes any form of sanctions and will continue talks with Harare through various regional and international bodies, a presidential representative said on Monday.
Bheki Khumalo would not be drawn into a debate over the editorial, but said talks with Mugabe’s government would continue through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Commonwealth.
“We as a government are opposed to any form of sanctions against Zimbabwe,” Khumalo told South African public radio SABC.
“What we can only do and will do is engage with Zimbabwe in the context of the SADC Task Force, of the Commonwealth initiative, as well as government to government as well as party contacts.” – AFP
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