President Thabo Mbeki will travel to Harare on Thursday to meet with President Robert Mugabe on Zimbabwe’s ongoing political and economic crisis.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo confirmed Mbeki’s visit but stressed that South Africa will not harden its stance on Zimbabwe.
”The two presidents will consult about the latest political situation. The problems of Zimbabwe can only be solved by the Zimbabweans themselves … we as South Africa can support what they are doing,” he said.
Mbeki has been widely criticised for not speaking out against the worsening situation in Zimbabwe.
”There is not going to be any change in the South African government’s policy towards Zimbabwe. We believe that the isolation and ostracisation of the president and the government will not work. There is no question of his [Mbeki] hardening his stance, there is no need for that,” Khumalo said.
He denied reports that Mbeki has promised a solution to the Zimbabwe crisis by the end of the year.
”I do not know where that comes from. The president has committed himself and is optimistic of finding a solution by June 2004. He said so at the World Economic Forum in Durban.”
Khumalo stressed the government’s stance of quiet diplomacy.
”We think engaging the Zimbabweans rather than excluding them will assist the Zimbabweans in finding a solution,” he said.
Zimbabwe finally cut ties with the Commonwealth earlier this month after the body decided to uphold its suspension.
The Southern African country was suspended from the Commonwealth in March last year, following presidential elections that observers said were marred by violence.
Aid agencies, including the United Nations, believe Zimbabwe’s policy of seizing white-owned farms for redistribution to new black farmers has disrupted agricultural production and increased hunger.
The Mugabe government, however, blames the food shortages entirely on the Southern African drought, which currently threatens millions of people in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Malawi, Zambia and Lesotho.
Khumalo added that Mbeki alone will meet with Mugabe. There have been reports that Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo — who chaired the recent Commonwealth meeting — will also be meeting with the beleaguered leader.
He said this meeting had been planned ahead of the Commonwealth summit, although it was only announced on Wednesday. — Sapa