President Thabo Mbeki needs to ”talk straight and hard” with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, during his current visit to that country, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.
”The suffering people of Zimbabwe are looking to South Africa to come to their rescue during their darkest hour,” DA spokesperson Graham McIntosh said in a statement.
”Today’s [Thursday’s] visit to Zimbabwe presents President Mbeki with his last chance to restore his credibility on the matter,” he said.
History will be a very harsh judge if the South African government does not change its ”quiet diplomacy” approach.
”President Mbeki must talk straight and hard with his Zimbabwean counterpart today. That is his duty, both to South Africa but also to the people of Zimbabwe and the region,” McIntosh said.
The costs in economic terms and in the real human suffering Zimbabwe has caused to its own people and to its neighbours, including South Africa, are unacceptable and avoidable.
Mbeki should ”read the riot act” to Mugabe. He should ensure Mugabe is given a road map that respects a genuine process of negotiation for a transitional government of national unity leading to a new Constitution and elections.
”The shadow-boxing and deceit around the so-called negotiations with the [opposition Movement for Democratic Change] MDC must stop.
”What President Mbeki must discard is an outdated and increasingly unpopular ‘liberation solidarity’ with Zanu-PF, who have a record of exploiting tribe, land and race to justify their oppression of those people who do not share their political views,” McIntosh said. — Sapa