The South African government has ”noted and accepted” the Zimbabwean government’s explanation of remarks by its information minister — who described South Africans as ”filthy, recklessly uncouth and barbaric”.
Foreign Affairs representative Ronnie Mamoepa said on Sunday the South African government had requested an explanation from Zimbabwean authorities regarding Jonathan Moyo’s remarks.
Moyo’s outburst followed a story in the Sunday Times of January 12 about his shopping trip to South Africa, when he spent large sums on luxury items while millions of his compatriots face starvation.
In his response to that story, Moyo criticised the South African media and South Africans in general, and clearly implied that President Thabo Mbeki was not fit to lead the African Renaissance.
”If these people believe they can lead an African renaissance, then God help them,” Moyo said.
Pretoria’s request — on Tuesday — for an explanation from Harare can be seen as a demarche, in diplomatic terms an extreme form of criticism.
Harare’s reply to that demarche criticises the Sunday Times for its ”invasion” of Moyo’s privacy and ”disregard” for his status as a cabinet minister.
However, it goes on to distance itself from ”inferences” that ”cast aspersions on President Thabo Mbeki’s impeccable credentials as a Pan Africanist.
”Nothing could be further from the truth,” the Zimbabwean government says in the statement.
”The Zimbabwe government respects and supports the role and efforts of His Excellency President Thabo Mbeki to bring about the dawn of a new Africa…”
Mamoepa said the South African government accepted the reassurance ”in as far as it pertains to the government and people of South Africa.”
Zimbabwe was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth — a lesser penalty than outright suspension — after President Robert Mugabe was returned to office in 2002 in elections marred by violence and widely regarded as rigged.
Mbeki is a member of the ”troika” delegated by the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting to consider whether that suspension should be continued is to meet again in March.
Mbeki’s representative Bheki Khumalo said on Sunday Moyo’s remarks ”would have no bearing on that meeting.”
He emphasised that Mbeki would approach the question with an open mind.
Meanwhile, Moyo blamed the opposition and disgruntled civil servants on Sunday for spreading reports of a retirement plan for Mugabe, accusing them of treason and agitating for a coup.
”If there is anyone who has hatched a plot to force the president to step down they should face the full wrath of the law,” Moyo told the state Sunday Mail newspaper.
Moyo said the debate on Mugabe’s future was, ”tantamount to plotting a coup in the glare of the media.”
He blamed the economic crisis gripping the southern African country marked by massive shortages of food, fuel and hard currency, on government bureaucrats fumbling what he termed ”technical” economic factors, and not ruling party policies.
”There is a lot of inefficiency, let alone corruption,” he said.
”Our greatest challenge at the moment is that we have a civil service that is not performing.”
Moyo suggested some members of the civil service may be serving ”hostile political interests.”
The economic disruptions in the country — partially blamed on the government’s often violent seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms — and erratic rains have caused the unprecedented shortages and spurred record inflation and unemployment.
An estimated 6,7-million people face starvation in coming months. Analysts say the unravelling of the economy is likely to intensify demands for Mugabe’s departure.
In his comments, Moyo made no mention of two of the most powerful figures in the ruling party, Parliament speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa and military commander General Vitalis Zvinavashe, who have been cited in reports as favouring Mugabe’s retirement.
Moyo also denied any rifts in the ruling party.
”You will not find in the party any significant elements that want to act unconstitutionally and undemocratically in favour of coup plotters and electoral cowards,” said Moyo.
The South African government, meanwhile, faced criticism on its Zimbabwe policy from another quarter on Sunday. Zimbabwe’s main opposition the Movement for Democratic Change accused Mbeki of ”hypocrisy” and ”dishonesty” in his approach to the situation in Zimbabwe.
”The South African government frankly, is dishonest,” MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube was reported as saying, in the Sunday Times.
”It is not surprising, really, because it is the same SA government which is saying to the rest of the world: ‘Don’t do anything about Zimbabwe. Let (Mugabe) go on with his torture and abuse. Let bygones be bygones’,” he said. – Sapa