A senior United Nations official said on Wednesday that it is far too premature to talk about a UN plan that would involve the departure of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
UN under-secretary general for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari made the remarks as South African President Thabo Mbeki expressed backing for a planned visit to Zimbabwe by UN chief Kofi Annan, who wants to negotiate a deal with Mugabe.
”It’s best left to them, to the UN and the Zimbabwean government, and hopefully that will produce its outcome so that we remove this particular matter from the international agenda,” Mbeki, flanked by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, told a press conference in London on Wednesday.
”It’s premature to talk about any package and certainly even more premature to talk about that package including a possible departure of President Mugabe,” Gambari told reporters at the UN.
”I cannot speculate on what is motivating the South Africans to consider stepping up or maintaining the level of engagement [on Zimbabwe],” he added.
Asked whether he would support a deal that would give Mugabe incentives to step down, such as an aid package or assurances about his vulnerability to prosecution, Mbeki replied: ”I’m quite certain that it wouldn’t help in any way if any one of us started prescribing what we believe ought to be the outcome of the process.”
Gambari, meanwhile, said the UN is in constant touch with Southern African leaders, including Mbeki, on how best to help the people of Zimbabwe cope with their country’s ”enormous economic and social challenges”.
The Harare government has agreed to a visit by Annan and is making the necessary preparations, according to Mbeki.
Mugabe invited Annan to Zimbabwe following the release of a UN report on a slum-clearance campaign last year that said at least 700 000 people had been left homeless.
Harare had said the UN report hyped the number of victims from the demolitions of shacks, houses, small businesses and market stalls from May to July last year.
An unnamed UN official said Annan has been exploring the possibility of movement on the political and economic front ahead of a possible visit.
Zimbabwe, once Southern Africa’s breadbasket, is in the throes of an economic crisis characterised not only by hyperinflation but also by widespread unemployment, and chronic shortages of fuel and basic goods. — Sapa-AFP