(TALKZIMBABWE) US statement undermines Sadc

US statement undermines Sadc
Munyaradzi Maburuse - Opinion
Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:48:00 +0000

DEAR EDITOR – The United States government has issued a statement calling for the inclusion of the United Nations in the ongoing negotiations in Zimbabwe, as many analysts had predicted.

A statement issued by US State Department spokesman, Sean McComarck Thursday says: “We urge African leaders to work with the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the United Nations to address the urgent needs of the Zimbabwean people.”

The statement was issued days before a full gathering of the Sadc region as recommended by the Sadc troika – the Organ on Politics, Security and Defence – takes place.

The ruling Zanu PF party has blamed the Movement for Democratic Change party for deliberately stalling the power-sharing agreement in order to bring the Zimbabwean issue to the international stage. This latest statement by the US State Department could be viewed as a notch up in that process.

Although a communiqué issued by the Troika on Tuesday concluded that the sticking point was over the Ministry of Home Affairs, the US State Department still issued a statement condemning President Mugabe for “refusal to implement a genuine and equitable power-sharing agreement”.

The United States tone included the word “now” which could be seen as direct interference in the affairs of the country.

The region should not allow the United States to issue such statements, which threaten the spirit of working together in the region. African diplomacy should resist such attempts at interference.

Munyaradzi Maburuse


EDITOR COMMENTS

Below we reproduce the full statement issued on October 29, 2008 by the Office of the Spokesman (US Department of State).

STATEMENT BY SEAN MCCORMACK, SPOKESMAN: ZIMBABWE IMPASSE

The United States regrets that the six-week impasse over implementation of the September 15 power-sharing agreement for Zimbabwe was not resolved at the October 27 Southern African Development Community-hosted talks. We condemn the Mugabe regime’s refusal to implement a genuine and equitable power-sharing agreement and its continued use of violence against peaceful demonstrators.

The United States shares the concern of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon about the negative effect the impasse is having on the people of Zimbabwe, who continue to suffer terribly. The United States will continue to provide food aid and other humanitarian assistance to assist the people of Zimbabwe.

Twenty-one African leaders witnessed the signing of the power sharing agreement between the Mugabe regime and the Movement for Democratic Change. The United States calls upon these leaders to resolve the impasse between the two parties now. We urge African leaders to work with the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the United Nations to address the urgent needs of the Zimbabwean people.

# # #

Issued: October 29, 2008