Britain says the crisis in former colony Zimbabwe is a result of bad policy and not a bilateral dispute between the two nations as President Robert Mugabe claims, it was reported on Friday.
British Embassy in Harare spokesperson Gillian Dare told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that there was no need for mediation between Zimbabwe and Britain because Zimbabwe suffers from a purely internal crisis.
Mugabe frequently claims that Zimbabwe’s crippling economic and political crisis, which has left the country reeling under persistent food shortages and sky-high inflation, is due to a quarrel with Britain over controversial land reforms.
Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was recently named mediator between the two sides.
That appointment was confirmed at a key African Union summit last weekend, when it was also announced that United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan would not visit Zimbabwe, denting the hopes of the opposition.
Responding to questions from the Herald, Dare said that what was needed to mend Zimbabwe’s crisis was a change in policy from the Zimbabwean authorities, not an international mediator.
”We have always said we would be ready to respond positively to real commitment to sustainable reform in Zimbabwe. There is still much progress needed in this direction,” she said.
”Zimbabwe’s problems are mounting. They stem from bad policy. Unless policy evolves in different and sustainable directions, no one will be able to help,” she was quoted as saying.
The Herald 0- which usually closely reflects the government line — said that Dare’s comments showed that Britain had been offended by Annan’s decision not to visit Zimbabwe, and said that other groups, including some church leaders had welcomed Mkapa’s appointment. – Sapa-DPA