(HERALD) Mbeki objects to sanctions

Mbeki objects to sanctions
Herald Reporters-AFP.

SOUTH Africa yesterday objected to the West’s new illegal sanctions on President Mugabe, some of his ministers and Government-related companies, saying negotiations between Zanu-PF and the MDC formations were progressing well, with both parties adhering to the agreed conduct, including a media blackout. Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said illegal sanctions were akin to external interference.

"For us, it is difficult to understand the objectives of new sanctions," said Pahad, two days after the United States government broadened its sanctions by adding the names of several dozen individuals as well as 17 companies and parastatals linked to the Zimbabwean Government.

"The Zimbabweans are meeting, let them sort out what they want for their future. We should not allow outside interference," Pahad told a news conference.

President Thabo Mbeki earlier told reporters that his government wants Zimbabwe’s political rivals to speedily reach an agreement on a negotiated settlement to the country’s crisis.

President Mbeki, as chief mediator, said the talks, which opened last Thursday, were ongoing and the South African cabinet meeting last week expressed hope that the participants would work fast towards a conclusive deal.

"Negotiations are continuing," said Mr Mbeki, without giving details of the talks being held under a media blackout at an upmarket lodge on the outskirts of the capital Pretoria.

"The cabinet expressed hope that the Zimbabwean parties will act with urgency to ensure that a settlement is reached sooner," he added.

Yesterday, President Mbeki’s spokesperson Mr Mukoni Ratshitanga told the media in South Africa that talks between Zimbabwe’s political parties were progressing well and that both sides were observing the terms of reference, including a media blackout.

"The talks are proceeding well. They will aim to be concluded in two weeks’ time," he said, adding that even if the talks are not concluded within the two-week time frame, it did not mean they would have collapsed, as they would continue until an agreement was reached.

Mr Ratshitanga did not reveal any details regarding the contents or tone of the negotiations.

Under the terms of a framework agreement signed on Monday last week, both sides are observing an official media blackout.

Information and Publicity Minister Cde Sikhanyiso Ndlovu confirmed the talks were progressing well in South Africa, but vehemently refused to give details.

"The dialogue process is going on smoothly and we are sure that a positive outcome would be achieved. The talks will definitely succeed," he said.

Political commentator Dr Tafataona Mahoso yesterday castigated the US for imposing more sanctions, saying this was a ploy by the Americans, together with the Group of Eight leading industrial nations, the European Union and their allies, to smuggle their agenda into the negotiations.

"Dialogue was never the end product to the Western countries. They want to make sure that even if an agreement is signed they have a tool that they will use to manipulate the country’s leadership to bow to their demands regardless of the leader.

"The G8, EU, US and their allies wanted some form of dialogue to happen in Zimbabwe, but their purpose of dialogue is not the same as those of Zimbabweans as they want the dialogue to further their interests and that of their companies," he said.

Dr Mahoso said the Western countries have all along been hiding behind the promotion of human rights, free flow of information and good governance yet their real objectives are to control the country’s resources.

He said despite the differences among the political leadership, Zimbabweans would mobilise to protect their land, sovereignty and independence.

"The American administration and the EU should not be

fooled into believing that the sanctions would compel us to give up our independence but they would destroy their proxies in Zimbabwe," he said.

Dr Mahoso said extending the embargo to Zimbabwean companies is evidence that the sanctions are not travel bans on Government officials as peddled by the country’s detractors, but are full economic sanctions.

"The companies that were targeted in the sanctions help Government protect Zimbabweans against artificial shortages and also help the country’s agrarian reform.

"Zimbabweans should, therefore, remain vigilant in the protection of the country’s resources," he said.

The Bush administration’s move comes barely two weeks after Russia and China vetoed a US-sponsored United Nations Security Council resolution that proposed worldwide sanctions against President Mugabe and 13 Government officials.

The EU, ignoring positive steps made by Zimbabwe’s main political parties to enter into dialogue, broadened similar sanctions against the country, adding 37 more individuals and companies to the list of 131 people already under a travel ban and asset freeze.

Zimbabwean political parties on Monday last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting the agenda for fully-fledged inter-party talks between the country’s three main political parties.

The negotiations entered the fourth day yesterday amid high hopes of a settlement to end the political and economic challenges affecting the country. — Herald Reporters-AFP.