Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern expressed ”great concern” over the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe at the outset of a visit to South Africa on Monday.
”I would like to thank President [Thabo] Mbeki for his work as the SADC [Southern African Development Community] mediator in Zimbabwe, an issue of great concern to us in Ireland,” Ahern told a reception in Cape Town hosted by the Irish ambassador.
Up to 3 000 Irish people are estimated to live in Zimbabwe, where the government’s ruinous economic policies have resulted in inflation of more than 24 000% and grinding poverty.
At the European Union-African Union summit in Lisbon in December, Ahern derided authoritarian Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s constant blaming of colonialism for his country’s economic collapse, saying: ”Any country that halves the life expectancy of its people speaks for itself.”
Earlier on Monday, Ahern visited the Niall Mellon Township Trust — named after a wealthy Irish property developer who has built hundreds of homes for shack-dwellers in the Cape Town area.
On Tuesday, he is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit on Mbeki, who is mediating in talks between the Zimbabwean government and opposition.
Ahern will also hold talks with Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on matters that will ”most likely” include Zimbabwe, according to his spokesperson.
The Irish leader arrived in South Africa on Sunday at the head of a trade delegation of more than 50 companies, including companies from Northern Ireland.
The delegation’s African tour also includes a visit to Tanzania, one of the biggest recipients of Irish overseas aid, which this year is set to reach more than 0,5% of gross national product. — Sapa-dpa