The South African government is talking to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s regime on the protection of South African interests in that country, in the context of a bilateral agreement between the two states.
Replying to a question in the National Assembly on Wednesday, President Thabo Mbeki said South Africa’s high commissioner to Zimbabwe is visiting farms owned by South Africans to assess the matter.
”I would have to get more up-to-date information, but the matter is being discussed with Zimbabwe. The matter of guarantees is very much on the agenda, and we will continue to engage them,” he said.
Zimbabwe has informally agreed not to confiscate property belonging to citizens of the South African Development Community living in that country, he said.
Mbeki said he has received a report from the Zimbabwean government looking into what had ”gone right and what had gone wrong” with its land redistribution process.
”We have been discussing the manner in which they handled the land redistribution. We have kept in very good communication with them as we reviewed what has happened with this,” he said.
He said the British and United States governments will be updated on the matter.
Mbeki reiterated that it is up to the people of Zimbabwe to find solutions to their political challenges.
”We are convinced that progress has been made in many areas of concern during ‘informal talks’ between the Zanu-PF government and the opposition [Movement for Democratic Change]. However, there are some outstanding issues that still need to be resolved,” he said.
Zimbabwe has to be encouraged to accelerate the process.
”What is required of us now is to continue encouraging the leadership of Zimbabwe to normalise the situation as a matter of urgency, and create the possibility to address the serious economic challenges facing the people of Zimbabwe.” — Sapa