Germany’s deputy opposition leader in parliament, Christian Democrat Arnold Vaatz, met with members of the Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
Following secret talks with MDC chief Morgan Tsvangirai and Pius Ncube, the Bishop of Bulawayo, Vaatz criticised South Africa for acting as an advocate for Zimbabwe’s controversial President Robert Mugabe during the recent Commonwealth summit in Nigeria.
The German politician entered Zimbabwe on a tourist visa.
Following the Nigerian summit, Western diplomats had expressed shock at South African President Thabo Mbeki’s defence of Mugabe’s government, which has been internationally criticised for repressing the opposition and bringing economic ruin to the country.
Vaatz urged Germany’s Social Democratic chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, to use his upcoming visit to South Africa — scheduled for January 21 to 23 — to point out to Mbeki that his stance towards Zimbabwe will have negative consequences.
The German parliamentarian said a meeting by Schroeder with MDC representatives could send a clear signal in the region.
”The impression that South Africa poses as a kind of protective power for this regime will have immense consequences for the reputation of the country [South Africa] and will certainly also impact on German investments,” Vaatz said.
”It has to be expected from a country like South Africa that it distances itself from machinations such as those of Zimbabwe,” he added. — Sapa-DPA