SADC must be more involved in Zim crisis, says Tsvangirai

SADC must be more involved in Zim crisis, says Tsvangirai
Written by George Chellah in Harare and Margaret Mtonga in Lusaka
Sunday, December 21, 2008 8:57:20 AM

SADC must become more actively involved in finding a solution to the Zimbabwean crisis, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has stated.And Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) secretary general Reverend Suzanne Matale has challenged the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to explain how they intend to intervene in the current situation in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirai stated that President Robert Mugabe’s regime has imposed the worst kind of sanctions upon Zimbabweans in its increasingly desperate attempt to hang on to power.

In a statement issued from Botswana, Tsvangirai called on the regional bloc to find a solution to the deepening crisis in his country.

“I encourage SADC to become more actively involved in finding a solution to our crisis once and for all. There is nothing to be gained from trying to push the MDC into an agreement just for the sake of removing Zimbabwe from the SADC agenda,” Tsvangirai stated. “The MDC can only enter a new government when our support from the people translates to substantial gains for them in terms of democracy, freedom and economic growth. We are told that SADC is the key to resolving the Zimbabwe crisis but why then is that key not opening the door to a more democratic dispensation in our country?”

He stated that SADC needed to ask itself if resolving the Zimbabwe crisis requires them to work more closely with the African Union and the United Nations.

“After all, this negotiation process was mandated to SADC by the AU and therefore we ask that SADC makes a formal report to the African body on the state of the negotiations in general and the outcome of the November 9th summit in particular,” Tsvangirai stated.

Tsvangirai stated that President Mugabe’s regime had imposed the worst kind of sanctions upon Zimbabweans in its increasingly desperate attempt to hang on to power by depriving citizens of their most fundamental rights through political and economic mismanagement.

“They have turned Zimbabwe into a country where poverty and disease thrive and people die. Cholera is now rife throughout the country, starvation stalks almost every Zimbabwean family and education and healthcare now exist only for the elite,” Tsvangirai stated. “The cholera epidemic, which should be an easily treatable disease is infecting people and taking lives in ever greater numbers. The aid agencies are doing their best to cope with this tidal wave of humanitarian suffering but, as the rains continue in Zimbabwe, they are in danger of being overwhelmed. Only if we simultaneously begin to address the causes and the effects of this disaster will it be possible for us to reduce the pandemic to manageable proportions.”

He stated that President Mugabe’s regime had shown unwillingness to put the welfare of Zimbabweans first.

“The MDC can only enter into an agreement that enables us to participate as an equal partner in order that we can contribute to solving the Zimbabwe crisis. This is the mandate we have from the people. Three months after signing the Global Political Agreement, we have to evaluate why there is no agreement? As an act of the MDC's good faith, we allowed Mugabe to be President in a coalition government. We are saddened by the fact that he is still trying to stay in power at all costs and reduce MDC to a junior partner in the new government,” Tsvangirai stated. “Let me remind you that at the moment, Zimbabwe has no government. The previous government is refusing to leave or share office despite losing the March 29th elections and despite the signing of the GPA. Mugabe himself called his last cabinet the worst in the country's history – and yet he has retained these incompetent ministers who are overseeing the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding in Zimbabwe today.

“Throughout the negotiation process, the MDC has shown patience, political maturity and willingness to make significant concessions to create a government that can begin to address the suffering of the people. In this, we have constantly been rebuffed by ZANU-PF, and the region itself has often been silent where their transgressions are concerned.”

Tsvangirai accused ZANU-PF of conducting a deliberate and targeted national terror campaign to undermine the MDC's support within Zimbabwe and the work of the pro-democracy and human rights organisations.

“This situation can no longer continue. The MDC can no longer sit at the same negotiating table with a party that is abducting our members and other innocent civilians, and refusing to produce any of them before a court of law. Therefore, if these abductions do not cease immediately, and if all the abductees are not released or charged in a court of law by January 1st 2009, I will be asking the MDC's National Council to pass a resolution to suspend all negotiations and contact with ZANU-PF,” Tsvangirai stated.

“There can be no meaningful talks while a campaign of terror is being waged against our people. There is an increasing sense of urgency surrounding the resolution of the Zimbabwe crisis. Not only is the death toll through disease, hunger, poverty and oppression rising every day, but Zimbabweans themselves are beginning to feel that the hope they invested in the Global Political Agreement will never mature into tangible benefits.”

He stated that Zimbabweans could not be expected to continue living under such appalling conditions indefinitely.

“Therefore, this negotiation process must now be confined to a specific timeframe in which all the outstanding issues are addressed, including, the appointment of provincial governors, the composition and constitution of the National Security Council and equity in the allocation of key ministries. If this cannot be achieved, then internationally supervised presidential elections must be conducted in an environment that is conducive to a free and fair poll,” stated Tsvangirai.

“A minor matter in terms of the suffering of our people, but a significant matter when it prevents me from being with them in their time of need is my passport. I have been waiting for six months now for a simple travel document that is my constitutional right. This matter has also become a symbol of ZANU-PF's lack of good faith in the negotiating process and it must be addressed now.”

And in a press release, Rev Matale stated that it was sad that there were rampant abductions in Zimbabwe, with the recent one being of a Human Rights activist Jestina Mukoko who was abducted on December 3, 2008 by a group of armed plain clothed men who identified themselves as policemen.

“CCZ is deeply concerned at violations of human rights and systematic persecution of human rights defenders by Zimbabwe police and armed forces,” Rev Matale stated. “The people of Zimbabwe have suffered enough at the hands of politicians who have no concern, whatsoever with preservation and enhancing of human life under any circumstances,”

Matale stated that the excuse used that Zimbabwe was a sovereign country did not mean anything in view of the magnitude of the brutality.

“Perpetuation of killings in Zimbabwe goes beyond sovereignty, the concern and priority should be protection of human life under any circumstances,” stated Rev Matale.