DATE=5/5/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=SOUTHERN AFRICA / ZIMBABWE
NUMBER=5-46277
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: South African President Thabo Mbeki is in
Zimbabwe as part of the continuing initiative by
Southern Africa leaders to persuade Zimbabwe President
Robert Mugabe to end the continuing political crises
in his country. V-O-A's Delia Robertson reports from
our Southern Africa Bureau that Mr. Mbeki urged Mr.
Mugabe to seek a non-confrontational way to solve the
land question between black and white Zimbabweans.
TEXT: Thabo Mbeki's visit, ostensibly to officiate at
the opening of the Bulaway Trade Fair, is part of the
ongoing initiative by Southern African leaders to try
to persuade Robert Mugabe to order an end to farm
invasions and political violence and to observe the
rule of law in Zimbabwe.
The crisis in Zimbabwe is already having negative
economic consequences in the region, particularly
affecting the investment climate and tourism. South
Africa appears worst affected - the South African
currency plunged to an all-time low before rallying
slightly.
Financial analysts say this is at least in part due to
the deteriorating economic and political stability in
Zimbabwe. However, they predict this is a temporary
situation which will right itself as the markets
return once more to viewing the South African economy
as being underpinned by what they say are extremely
sound fundamentals.
Mr. Mbeki and other regional leaders have been
severely criticized in the media by opposition groups
and by some observers for their failure to publicly
condemn the Zimbabwe leader's defiance of
international calls for an end to the farm violence
and his disregard for the rule of law.
Mr. Mbeki responded with a rare special broadcast to
South Africans, in which he outlined the efforts of
his government over the past two years to address the
situation in Zimbabwe. He said he and other regional
leaders will tenaciously continue their initiative
with what he called humanity and humility.
/// MBEKI ACT ///
I appeal to you all that, as before, we strive
to work together to help find the correct
solutions to the issues that have arisen in
Zimbabwe and Congo. As before, we must do this
without arrogance, without seeking to impose
ourselves on anybody and without the
intoxication of the delusion of the exercise of
power we neither have nor desire.
/// END ACT ///
Western diplomatic sources have told V-O-A that
Southern Africa leaders are unwilling to publicly
denounce Mr. Mugabe, believing that this approach
would be counter-productive. But the sources say,
there is a concerted effort by regional leaders to
address the crises in Zimbabwe.
The sources say the most intense pressure on Zimbabwe
is coming from South Africa and Mozambique, and to a
lesser extent from Zambia and Botswana. The leaders
of these countries are telling Mr. Mugabe that the
developments in his country are damaging to the entire
region.
The sources say the leaders also want Mr. Mugabe to
understand the need for land reform has contributed to
the farm invasions and to his refusal to order the
squatters off the farms. But they are saying that he
must alter his tactics because the negative publicity
is hurting the region.
These diplomatic sources tell V-O-A it is possible
that a conscious decision by the Southern Africa
leaders to keep Mr. Mugabe engaged in discussions, and
not to box him in, has resulted in a ratcheting down
in levels of violence they characterize as having
become too raw.
Mr. Mbeki said it is his objective to get a common
international commitment to solve the Zimbabwe land
question. This he said, would simultaneously address
issues such as the rule of law. The South African
leader also hopes these efforts will bring to an end
the political violence and create the conditions for
the withdrawal of so-called war veterans from the
farms they have occupied.
Government sources say that Mr. Mbeki views Zimbabwe's
involvement in the civil war in Congo-Kinshasa as
contributing significantly to the economic decline and
other problems in Zimbabwe. An element of the
regional initiative to address the Zimbabwe situation
has therefore also been to focus on the peace
initiative in Congo-Kinshasa.
/// REST OPT ///
Mr. Mbeki announced that South African soldiers will
form part of the United Nations peace monitoring force
in Congo-Kinshasa when that force is deployed.
/// MBEKI ACT ///
Our government has also made a commitment to
provide a contingent from our National Defense
Force to join the monitors that will be sent by
the United Nations and the (Organization of
African Unity) to the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
/// END ACT ///
The United Nations and the government of Congo-
Kinshasa this week signed a cooperation agreement -
the first step towards deploying the force of five
thousand five hundred peace monitors. The leader of
the U-N delegation -- United States Ambassador to the
United Nations Richard Holbrooke -- has cautioned that
deployment of this force depends on whether the
government of President Laurent Kabila complies with
the terms of the agreement. (Signed)
NEB/DAR/GE/KL
05-May-2000 14:43 PM EDT (05-May-2000 1843 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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