Maravi

(HERALD) Leaders boycott Sadc summit on Zimbabwe

Leaders boycott Sadc summit on Zimbabwe
Herald Reporters

A meeting of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security in Swaziland to ratchet up pressure on Zimbabwe to call off tomorrow’s presidential election run-off flopped yesterday after Angola, the chair, and South Africa, the mediator, boycotted the summit.

A Government official, who is well-versed with the operations of Sadc, yesterday said Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and his South African counterpart Mr Thabo Mbeki — the Sadc-appointed mediator for Zimbabwe — did not attend the summit.

President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and King Mswati of Swaziland attended the meeting.

"It was a bilateral meeting between two countries, it can never be a troika meeting. Troika means three and the deputy chair cannot call a meeting when the chair is there.

"Their resolution has no force in respect to Sadc, let alone Zimbabwe. The two countries (Tanzania and Swaziland) are only expressing an obligation to the Western world," said the official.

Tanzania and Swaziland called for the postponement of the presidential run-off.

Political analysts said Sadc needs to stand by President Mugabe since there were concerted efforts by Britain, America and their allies to divide the regional grouping and give space to their regime change agenda.

The analysts said Britain and the United States were clandestinely holding separate talks with Sadc member states in order to entice the regional bloc to change its stance and isolate Zimbabwe.

"Recently, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa admitted that he was being pressurised by the British and Americans to isolate Zimbabwe.

"Sadc should also be cognisant of the fact that a weaker Sadc, without strongmen like President Mugabe, could easily give in to demands by the US such as the setting up of its military base, the Africom, which it is desperate to establish by September 2008. So Sadc needs to rally behind Zimbabwe now than ever before.

"It is clear that if Sadc stands firmly with Zimbabwe, the West will say it is not effective and democratic, but what is happening in Zimbabwe can happen to any other Sadc country. So the solution is for Sadc to remain focused on supporting President Mugabe,’’ said one analyst.

Last night, Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Cde Ignatius Chombo said MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was a political weakling who never takes any "struggle" to the bitter end.

"He lacks determination, stamina and endurance to see things to the bitter end," Cde Chombo said.

"He has tried to pre-empt his imminent defeat on Friday by pulling out."

After their attempts to get the United Nations Security Council to declare Tsvangirai president of Zimbabwe failed on Tuesday, the US and British governments have now resorted to shrill threats in their attempts to stop the presidential run-off set for tomorrow.

On Monday, London and Washington unsuccessfully tried to get the Security Council to declare Tsvangirai the ‘‘legitimate president’’ of Zimbabwe basing on the March 29 elections but other members — led by China, Russia and South Africa — indicated that it would be illegal to stop the run-off.

Legal experts across the political divide have since indicated that the run-off is a legal fait accompli.

Western media yesterday quoted British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, during his weekly question time, threatening to push the European Union for more sanctions against Zimbabwe as US Ambassador to Zimbabwe James D. McGee issued a veiled threat to the Government, saying ‘‘the US would take ‘expected’ steps’’.

The EU imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe following the expulsion of Pierre Schori, head of its observer mission to the 2002 presidential poll, for violating his visa conditions.

This is the second time in as many months that McGee has threatened violence on the State following a letter he wrote to the media last month, saying the US was gathering ‘‘evidence of the atrocities being committed’’ so that the perpetrators can be brought to book.

McGee called on Sadc to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe, saying that would not be difficult since Zimbabwe was landlocked, though he expressed pessimism that Sadc would sell out Zimbabwe.

Brown’s threats came as the England and Wales Cricket Board backed his decision to ban Zimbabwe’s cricket team from the UK.

"We want to ensure that Zimbabwe does not tour England next year," Brown said. "And we will call on other countries to join us in banning Zimbabwe from the Twenty20 tournament," which is being held in Britain next year.

Zimbabwe was scheduled to play next June in the Twenty20 World Cup in England. The team was also due to play England in two Tests and three one-day matches.

Analysts said the desperation by Tsvangirai and his allies in London and Washington was clear proof that they knew their game was up in Zimbabwe.

Labels: ELECTIONS, SADC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 12:54 AM