Maravi

Santos asks Morgan to prove his victory claim

Santos asks Morgan to prove his victory claim
By George Chella in Johannesburg, South Africa
Sunday August 17, 2008 [04:00]

ANGOLAN President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has challenged MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to substantiate his claims that he won the March 29 presidential elections in Zimbabwe. And the Zambian government has said events leading to the presidential runoff in Zimbabwe had left a serious blot on the culture of democracy in SADC.

Informed sources yesterday told The Post that the SADC organ on defence and security on Friday requested Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to address it on the situation in the country.

“President Mugabe was asked to address the organ which he did, including laying to bear the facts of the agreements but when Morgan Tsvangirai was requested, he also gave his side.’

e said ‘the people of Zimbabwe spoke in March and that position should be recognised,” the source revealed. “But Dos Santos challenged Tsvangirai saying his statement was inconsistent with what the leaders have. Dos Santos said ‘this is inconsistent with what we have.

It’s also inconsistent with your own law which you don’t seem to understand so can you please get a lawyer to interpret this for you.’”

The source further said that the MDC faction leader Professor Arthur Mutambara also explained to the organ on the situation in Zimbabwe.

“Professor Mutambara told the organ that, ‘yes in March people spoke but what did they say? They never said a single party should take power. They said the parties must share power since there was no outright winner in the March elections and this is what we are doing,’” said the source.

And Zambia’s foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande, who was representing outgoing SADC chairperson President Levy Mwanawasa, gave the Zambian position on the Zimbabwean crisis.

“The regrettable events leading to the runoff have no doubt left a serious blot on the culture of democracy in our region. This brought into a question the ability of SADC to maintain the rule of law,” Pande said.

“I take cognisance of the decision of the African Union urging political parties in Zimbabwe to dialogue to find a solution to the political crisis in the country.”

Pande also welcomed the dialogue on the Zimbabwe crisis led by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

On infrastructure development, Pande said the SADC heads of state held a special session on the need to scale up infrastructure.

“It was agreed that there was need to upgrade our regional infrastructure,” Pande said. “On 24th July, 2008 Botswana and Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the Kazungula Bridge on the Zambezi River.”

Pande also said the region faced energy deficits which were reaching worrying levels. He also said the region was experiencing adverse effects of droughts, floods and cyclones.

Pande said the launch of the Free Trade Area would facilitate trade and regional integration.

On the Xenophobia attacks in South Africa recently, Pande said the attacks deterred SADC efforts on smooth implementation of free movements of goods and labour.
And in his acceptance speech, SADC chairperson President Mbeki thanked the Zimbabwean political leadership for the efforts in the dialogue process.

“I salute leaders of Zimbabwe for the enormous efforts made to agree on the common agenda to address the issues facing the nation,” President Mbeki said. “Let them finalise negotiations and attend to the reconstruction of Zimbabwe and take the people off the dire straits.”

President Mbeki said people had high hopes and awaited positive results from the Zimbabwean talks.

“We can draw the inspiring legacy of frontline states. We must help to restore Zimbabwe on the road to recovery,” he said.

Earlier in his welcoming remarks, President Mbeki said South Africa was delighted to welcome people to the summit which would include the launch of the Free Trade Area and also the re-admission of Seychelles.

“Without SADC, we will not be able to achieve regional development and integration. It’s important to be conscious that whatever we do or don’t, we will swim or sink together,” President Mbeki said. “I trust that the 28th SADC summit will confront poverty, underdevelopment, deepen democracy and political stability.”

And African Union commission chairperson Jean Ping expressed sincere gratitude to President Mbeki for successfully hosting the 28th summit. He also paid tribute to President Mwanawasa for spearheading the creation of the Free Trade Area.

“Tomorrow, SADC will launch its Free Trade Area. I would like to congratulate all the SADC heads of state, and allow me to pay tribute to President Levy Mwanawasa for spearheading the creation of the SADC Free Trade Area in his capacity as outgoing SADC chairman. Owing to his illness, he is not here to witness this historic launch of the SADC FTA,” he said. “On behalf of the AU and myself, I wish His Excellency a quick recovery.”

And SADC executive secretary Dr Thomaz Salomao urged the region to endeavor to have peace through dialogue.

He said peace, security and political stability were a prerequisite to progress. Dr Salomao also said the state of regional infrastructure continued to pose challenges.

Meanwhile, Botswana President Major General Ian Kharma boycotted the summit.
The Botswana government recently indicated that it would not attend the summit because there was no legitimate government in Zimbabwe.

Labels: FREE TRADE AREA, JOSE EDWARDO DOS SANTOS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SADC, SANCTIONS

posted by MrK @ 3:36 PM