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We've not turned back on Zimbabwe, says Pretoria
ZimOnline
November 15, 2006

http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=471

HARARE – The South African government has not given up on Zimbabwe and is still engaging President Robert Mugabe’s government in a bid to find a solution to its troubled northern neighbour’s deepening crisis, a senior official in the country’s department of foreign affairs has said.

Ayanda Ntsabula, the director-general in the South African department of foreign affairs, said Pretoria remained committed to helping solve Zimbabwe's problems, despite accusations it had adopted a hands-off approach especially after President Thabo Mbeki tried last June to get outgoing United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan to handle Zimbabwe’s crisis.

Annan hit a brick wall after Mugabe told him there was no need for his involvement because former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was already mediating between Harare and London, which the Zimbabwean leader claims is behind the crisis bedevilling his country.

It has since emerged that Mkapa is not mediating between Zimbabwe and Britain, which says troubles in its former colony are because of misrule by Mugabe. Britain also insists that there is no need for mediation between the two countries.

"I ….. wish to inform you that the government of South Africa is constantly engaging the government of Zimbabwe at the political, economic and social levels," wrote Ntsabula in response to accusations by Zimbabweans exiled in South Africa that Pretoria was abetting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe because it had failed to criticise Mugabe’s excesses.

"The government of South Africa, together with African Union (AU) governments and the international community will continue to assist the government and the people of Zimbabwe to find a lasting solution to the major challenges that their country is facing," added Ntsabula in the letter to the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, dated October 9.

The forum headed by prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer Gabriel Shumba had written to the Pretoria administration accusing it of shielding Mugabe’s government from censure by the international community for its gross violation of human rights and repressive rule.

Zimbabwe has since 2000 grappled with its worst ever political and economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. Critics blame the crisis on repression and mismanagement by Mugabe, in power since independence. He denies the charge.

The crisis has spawned hyperinflation, shortages of foreign currency, food, fuel and other basic commodities to leave political tensions on knife edge in the southern African country. - ZimOnline

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