Maravi

Chikane bemoans politics of individuality

Chikane bemoans politics of individuality
By Mutuna Chanda
Saturday June 28, 2008 [04:00]

POLITICS of individuality are not relevant to today's African context, South African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane has said. And High Commissioner Chikane said the Thabo Mbeki-led SADC mediation in Zimbabwe is needed now more than ever. In an interview on Thursday, High Commissioner Chikane said the talk on reconciliation in Zambia's political scene would expose those who pushed the agenda of being seen as having done things alone.

"Politics of individuality or self portrayal are not relevant to the African context today," High Commissioner Chikane said. "What is relevant is collective leadership.

So the reconciliation among Zambia's political leaders will expose those who have the 'I' mentality of 'I did this, I did that'. We should be able to say 'we did this together' regardless of political affiliation."

He said all political parties on the campaign platform stood for creating jobs and improving the welfare of people and wondered why they could not work together on national issues.

"We need to identify areas that are essential for the survival. For a country like Zambia, unemployment is high, industrialisation is quite low but if we have a common perspective from political leaders, instead of them blaming each other for the problems that are being experienced, then it would be positive," High Commissioner Chikane said.

"If we continue saying that people in province x are unemployed because they do not come from the same province or tribe as the President, then you are polarising society and are agitating the people.

You should be able to deal with the problems sincerely and speak collectively. It is in this area that I appreciate the spirit of the Zambian people and leadership. Through the recent reconciliation that we have seen, they have spoken from a common platform."

However, he said once political leaders have agreed on the common direction for development in areas such as infrastructure, they should be able to criticise each other if funds were diverted for other programmes other than what was agreed on.

And High Commissioner Chikane said the mediation led by South Africa's President Mbeki in Zimbabwe was needed more today than at the time there was peace in that country.

He said much as observers had seen flaws in the mediation effort of President Mbeki, it was not an easy course.

High Commissioner Chikane said the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which tasked President Mbeki with the mediation effort, reserved the right to determine which course of action to take.

"In mediation, you work until you have no work to do," High Commissioner Chikane said. "The objective of SADC was not to facilitate elections which were left to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

The objective of SADC was that 'things have gone out of rail and need intervention', that is why they called on President Mbeki to mediate.

"The mediation becomes more relevant now given that there are reported killings and violence because we don't want Zimbabwe to go to war with itself.

The mediation is needed now more than at the time there was peace. Without mediation, such conflict would affect the region.

"It's not a comfortable job. President Mbeki didn't apply to do it, he was just chosen."
When asked why President Mbeki did not avail timely information to SADC chairperson President Levy Mwanawasa on the situation in Zimbabwe, High Commissioner Chikane declined to comment on the matter saying he did not know what happened between the two Presidents.

President Mwanawasa on Sunday during a press conference at State House in Lusaka complained that he was being denied information as SADC chairperson.

President Mwanawasa said he had twice attempted to contact President Mbeki a day before to get a briefing on the situation in Zimbabwe and was informed that the South African leader would get back to him as he was busy on both occasions.

President Mbeki, by the time of the press conference, had not contacted President Mwanawasa to brief him on the situation in Zimbabwe.

High Commissioner Chikane also said South Africa agreed with President Levy Mwanawasa's position that elections in Zimbabwe were supposed to be postponed.
He further said it was not too late for talks between President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"They should talk to each other as Zimbabweans and find a solution to Zimbabwean problems. Although we wish that talks should have come up earlier, they can still talk to save lives of us ordinary people," said High Commissioner Chikane.

Labels: MOSES CHIKANE, POLITICS

posted by MrK @ 4:44 AM