Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) insists it sent a letter to President Thabo Mbeki asking him to step down as a mediator in the debacle following the country’s poll.
The MDC says it sent the letter on May 13, but it could not disclose any details “because this is a diplomatic issue”. The party also said it could not say who took receipt of the letter in Mbeki’s office.
For his part, the Reverend Frank Chikane, Director General in the Presidency, said the letter — which was published in the Sunday Times — was a fake. He said the letter could be part of a disinformation campaign by sinister forces. “The world is not innocent — there are too many interests out there,” he said.
In the letter, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai “respectfully” mentions that when Mbeki started mediating, “Zimbabwe still had a functioning economy, millions of our citizens had not fled to other countries to escape political and economic crisis [sic], and tens of thousands had not yet died from impoverishment and disease. With respect, if we continue like this, there will be no country left.”
The MDC has said another copy will be given to the South African high commissioner in Harare.
It’s extraordinary that this spat is playing itself out in the press, but that’s perhaps the only way the MDC feels it can be heard. If nothing else, the letter saga illustrates that there’s a sizeable gap between the MDC and South African officials.
Is Mbeki to be pitied for his unenviable role as mediator — and what an egg dance that must be — or scorned for his refusal to take off the gloves?
On Thursday, Mbeki said while he was concerned at the violence in Zimbabwe, he had no intention of trying to bring Mugabe’s government down. “It seems to me perfectly obvious that one of our principal tasks in this regard is to assist the people of Zimbabwe to find one another with regard to the resolution of the immense problems they face.”
Mbeki added that there were “some farther afield from us who choose to describe us as a so-called rogue democracy … because we refuse to serve as their subservient klipgooiers against especially President Robert Mugabe”.
This comment drew the ire of Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille, who said a public rebuke of the “real villains” was needed. “It is deeply ironic that within hours of Mbeki’s defence of quiet diplomacy, Morgan Tsvangirai was detained by the Zimbabwean security police for the third time in a week,” she said.
“The president says that South Africa will continue to insist that the people of Zimbabwe be allowed to freely choose their leaders and government, but he has done nothing to try to secure such conditions in the face of rampant intimidation of the MDC. As a result, the situation there has deteriorated to the point that a free and fair presidential run-off in two weeks’ time is impossible.”
| FULL SPEED AHEAD |
NOT SO FAST |
Apple
Well done, Apple. A new, faster, shinier and cheaper iPhone is unleashed upon the world, and while it will certainly be a money-making miracle for the company execs, at least the product itself isn’t a terrible thing to own. So, consumers win too (even though they won’t be billionaires). |
 Department of Correctional Services
Annanias Mathe, infamous escape artist, almost managed to slip away from prison once again this week when he managed to free one hand from handcuffs and attacked a guard. Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour “interviewed” Mathe afterwards … perhaps to ask for tips on how to make prisons more secure? |
Most-read stories
June 5 to 11
1. Mbeki in last-ditch Zim mediation bid
South Africa has chaired talks between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party and opposition in a new mediation drive ahead of a run-off election this month, a report said on Tuesday.
2. Dozens of dolphins die on Madagascar beach
Fifty-five dolphins have died after coming ashore on a beach in the north-west of Madagascar, conservationists said on Monday.
3. Rural Democrats refuse to give backing to Obama
Johnny Telvor was not happy about Barack Obama becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Not happy at all.
4. Go Obama!
It’s not just that he’s a black male. Or young. Or raised in a country of the developing south. It’s for all these reasons and more we celebrate that Barack Obama has won the Democrats’ nomination to run for the United States presidency.
5. MDC battle on in ‘Mugabe’s country’
Zimbabwe’s opposition had a successful day of campaigning despite attempts by ruling party militants to thwart election activities, party officials said on Sunday.
6. Call Zim vote off, says Makoni
Zimbabwe’s presidential election run-off should be scrapped to prevent further bloodshed, the ruling-party defector who came third in the first round said on Thursday.
7. South Africans take a stand against crime
The South African government needs to take people seriously, actor and comedian Desmond Dube said at the Million Man March anti-crime gathering in Pretoria on Tuesday.
8. High noon for Judge Hlophe
Cape Judge President John Hlophe will face a tough, courtroom-style interrogation by the disciplinary committee of the Judical Service Commission (JSC) — and possibly some of the country’s top advocates — over allegations that he tried to influence Constitutional Court judges in favour of ANC president and corruption-accused Jacob Zuma.
9. An embarrassment to the revolution
“You tell me, as a newspaperman, why don’t you guys write about the fact that Tsvangirai is a sell-out,” asked my friend the other day.
10. Mugabe turns the screw on opposition
The Zimbabwean government on Friday banned the opposition presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, from holding political rallies three weeks ahead of his run-off election against Robert Mugabe.