The Southern African Development Community (SADC) lost an opportunity to help solve Zimbabwe’s problems by supporting President Robert Mugabe in Tanzania this week, the New National Party said on Wednesday.
Mugabe received a rapturous greeting in the East African country’s former capital, Dar-es-Salaam, at the opening session of the SADC ministerial summit on Monday, where delegates called for an end to the sanctions against Zimbabwe.
NNP spokesperson on foreign affairs Dr Boy Geldenhuys said in a statement the SADC leaders had wasted an opportunity to find a solution for Zimbabwe.
”Their unconditional support … might create an impression with Mugabe that he can ignore the official opposition, dismiss them and keep them under control with violence until the next elections.”
He said it also created the impression Mugabe did not need to negotiate a political solution.
The SADC is the only body with the necessary integrity to convince Mugabe of the importance of a political agreement with the Movement for Democratic Change.
”Their inability to take up this responsibility might cost them dearly,” he said. — Sapa