African Views on Zimbabwe

African views on Zimbabwe

African leaders & governments

TANZANIAN PRESIDENT AND CURRENT AU CHAIRMAN JAKAYA KIKWETE:

We [the AU] understand your [the USA's] concerns [about Zimbabwe]. I want to assure you that the concerns you have expressed are indeed the concerns of many of us in (the) African continent... The only area that we may differ is on the way forward.

We are saying no party can govern alone in Zimbabwe and therefore the parties have to work together, come out to work together in a government and then look at the future of their country together.

In an appearance with President George W. Bush, Mr Kikwete said that although "many leaders" in Africa had "expressed their dissatisfaction at the way things happened" in Zimbabwe, they differed with G8 leaders "on the way forward."

"I don't think there is much, the divergence there. You [President Bush] would have liked to see us do a bit - some things, we would have liked to see you do some things. But we'll continue to discuss all these issues, and as friends at the end of the day we'll come to an understanding."

BOTSWANA FOREIGN MINISTER PHANDU SKELEMANI As a country that practises democracy and the rule of law, Botswana does not, therefore, recognise the outcome of the presidential run-off election, and would expect other SADC member states to do the same. It is against this backdrop that Botswana urges SADC to assume its responsibility by taking proactive steps that are consistent with its principles and objectives. It is, therefore, Botswana's position that Zimbabwe not be allowed to participate in SADC meetings until such a time that they demonstrate their commitment to strictly adhere to the organization's principles.

KENYAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOSES WETANGULA:

Kenya is ready to help and. show Mugabe how to solve the crisis... If he accepts a power-sharing formula, Kenya is ready to offer advice and also mediate.

SADC CHAIRMAN AND ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT LEVY MWANAWASA has called Zimbabwe a "tremendous embarrassment to all of us."

ZAMBIAN CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MIKE MULONGOTI:

I challenge you fellow Africans on whether you can proudly talk about your countries. Ask yourselves whether you have been able to contribute to democracy in the region.

NIGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OJO MADUEKWE:

We express our strong displeasure at the process leading to the election and the outcome of the election... We do not consider the outcome of that election as a basis for moving forward... It is our view that enduring peace could only be achieved in Zimbabwe if the country returned to the status quo before the presidential run-off.

Since the election did not change anything, discussions can proceed without any reference to it... We are not opposed to a government of national unity but we have to be careful here and not regard the Kenyan model as a one-size-fits-all arrangement.

SENEGAL PRESIDENT ABDOULAYE WADE

I said that sanctions [against Zimbabwe] wouldn't be useful and that they wouldn't change the regime. I was supported by all African leaders.

We Africans called for a continuation of mediation that's underway. I understand that Westerners have to react to public opinion, which is shocked by images of massacres. They can't not react. But for us Africans, sanctions aren't going to resolve anything. I asked for a delay in applying sanctions by two or three months to give time [for mediation]. They understand this request.

GAMBIAN PRESIDENT ALHAJI DR YAHYA JAMMEH:

Zimbabwe's election is valid... We Africans should learn a lesson from this. They [the West] think they can dictate to us Africans and this is not acceptable. Africans should stand for Zimbabwe.

SOUTH AFRICA'S U.N. AMBASSADOR DUMISANI S. KUMALO South African government is engaged in "sensitive" political talks in Harare with the Mugabe government and members of the opposition. Mr Kumalo said the British strategy would amount to an acknowledgment that the African mediation effort "has failed. That's not true".

NAMIBIAN POLITICAL ANALYST PROF. ANDRE DU PISANINamibia has excellent individuals available who have the moral stature to play a significant role [in the Zimbabwe crisis].

It is now the time to consolidate. The AU has a much more important role to play in the search for a solution in Zimbabwe. In Kenya, after violence broke out following a controversial election, the AU played a large role

I am concerned over the current situation. There is very little room for mediation. Many mistakes have already been made and one does not know to what extent the parties trust each other. This however is a hurdle all the parties must jump over. Both sides will have to make serious attempts to accommodate each other. It also should happen at various levels of society.

Zimbabwe

PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE:

I am the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe and that is the reality ... If they agree on that, and we are satisfied, then we shall go into dialogue and listen to them by way of ideas (but) those votes can never be thrown away.

OPPOSITION MDC SPOKESMAN NELSON CHAMISA:

Mugabe is joking [in insisting that he be accepted as president ahead of any talks]. This is an unrealistic precondition and we are not going to accept it.

At night and during daylight, any hour the MDC-T remains committed to locating exit points to the crisis our country currently finds itself in. Our best foot forward as a nation is a negotiated settlement which should give rise to a transitional arrangement characterized by a new constitution and national healing.

We want both SADC and AU to superintend this process. We do not want to overburden President Mbeki. He cannot do this work alone. We want him to be assisted.

JUSTICE MINISTER PATRICK CHINAMASA:

We appeal to foreigners and external forces to leave the resolution of the Zimbabwe situation to Zimbabweans alone. Britain, the US and the EU, in particular, should stop meddling in our affairs. It is very evident that their hand is involved and complicating the smooth dialogue between ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations. We are confident that if we are left to discuss this matter as Zimbabweans, we will find a solution sooner rather than later.

As ZANU-PF, we are disappointed that Tsvangirai, who requested for the meeting [in Harare on 5 July, brokered by Mbeki], did not turn up. His no-show shows that someone is dictating the pace for him. Tsvangirai is no longer his own person. He is receiving contradictory instructions from his handlers. Until Tsvangirai makes up his mind and throws the British and Americans from his back, a solution would be difficult.

African press (23 June)

EDITORIAL IN SOUTH AFRICA'S CAPETIMES

Now [South African President Thabo] Mbeki - backed by the region, Africa and the rest of the world - has to make clear to Mugabe that if he goes ahead and declares himself the winner and therefore the president, SADC, the African Union and the United Nations will simply not recognise him or his government.

PETER FABRICIUS IN SOUTH AFRICA'S CAPE TIMES Overall, one senses that the region and Africa are evolving politically and economically and feel that this octogenarian [Mugabe], who does not know his time has passed, is dragging them down.

HEIDI HOLLAND IN SOUTH AFRICA'S STAR

A creative new approach to the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe may yet bring peace to a long-troubled country. But it will require bold diplomacy… The successful outcome to new, admittedly radical diplomacy will almost certainly require Britain's participation as the principal negotiator, presumably in alliance with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), since Mugabe is adamant that his quarrel is with the former colonial power rather than with the United Nations or the US.

MAHOROU KANAZOE IN BURKINA FASO'S LE PAYS The withdrawal by Morgan Tsvangirai, which takes away with it any interest in the presidential election, was almost inevitable - such is the extent to which the confrontation between the two parties resembled anything but an electoral campaign. The extremist character of both camps had ended up by turning Zimbabwe into a war camp.

EDITORIAL IN BURKINA FASO'S L'OBSERVATEUR PAALGA Tsvangirai's withdrawal opens the way for Mugabe to an easy victory - cheap as it is. Mugabe will therefore have won without peril and triumphed without glory.

EDITORIAL IN ALGERIA'S LA TRIBUNE

In order to save his reign [Mugabe] can only accept the terms of a government of national union proposed by South African President Thabo Mbeki. But old man Mugabe has rejected this form of sharing because he feels that he has a divine mission. Does God really like having immortals in power to this point?

CAESAR ZVAYI IN ZIMBABWE'S HERALD

The similarities between Tsvangirai and [US President] Bush are numerous, they are startling. Both men have a predilection for crime, Tsvangirai having had several brushes with the law for treason stretching back to allegations of spying for Apartheid South Africa in 1989, and Bush of drunk driving. Both failed their nation when it needed them most.