African governments must exert more pressure on Zimbabwe to solve that country’s political and economic problems, the South African Chamber of Business said on Thursday.
”We believe Zimbabwe is a prime example of what should not happen in Africa,” Sacob representative Marius Louw told reporters in Johannesburg.
He said governments on the continent had not put enough pressure on the Zimbabwean government to solve its internal problems, and this ”soft approach” would impact negatively on the promotion of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
”Others have questioned the functionality and relevance of an African peer review system, and whether it will work given the soft approach toward Zimbabwe,” he said.
Louw said growing concern about Zimbabwe’s internal crisis affected southern Africa, the entire continent, and raised questions about the commitment of continent’s leaders to adhere to Nepad’s fundamental principles.
Supporters of the Zimbabwean government have reportedly been seen beating political opponents with impunity. President Robert Mugabe’s land reform programme has been described as chaotic.
”We hope that the situation will be resolved there (Zimbabwe) quickly,” Louw said.
Sacob chief executive officer James Lennox said there was intense lobbying in the United States against Swaziland, which, like Zimbabwe, had been accused of not upholding the rule of law.
The Swazi government, already under pressure to accelerate political reform, has been accused of defying the country’s Appeal Court and this has led to a judicial crisis there.
Lennox said bad perceptions about southern Africa made it impossible for investors to do business in the region. – Sapa