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Zim rejects reform at regional summit
Shapi Shacinda and Michael Georgy, Mail & Guardian (SA)
August 16, 2007

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleid=316727&referrer=RSS

Zimbabwe on Thursday rejected the need for political reform in the Southern African nation at a summit of regional leaders that is meant to find ways to ease the country's political and economic crisis.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders met to consider the crisis in Zimbabwe but the prospects for progress looked slim after the Harare government rejected dialogue with the opposition and insisted on its democratic credentials.

"Political reform is not necessary in my country because we are a democracy like any other democracy in the world," Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary affairs, told reporters as the two-day summit opened in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.

The 14-nation SADC has been accused of being too soft on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salomao told a news conference on Wednesday the regional group would consider options including a "hard line", "quiet diplomacy" or a "different" method.

Chinamasa suggested in an interview with Zambian state television on Wednesday that quiet diplomacy, spearheaded by South Africa under President Thabo Mbeki, may not pay off.

He said Mugabe's government, accused of widespread human rights abuses, did not see any reason to negotiate with opposition groups and alleged they were carrying out violent attacks on civilians and security forces.

"There can be no justification to make us [engage in] dialogue," he said. "They are only interested in getting into power through unconstitutional means."

A senior Zambian official said SADC had grown tired of the deepening political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe but he did not have a resolution, saying a progress report by Mbeki on Zimbabwe would determine a course of action.

"We are fed up with the crisis in Zimbabwe and we want it resolved," said the official, who asked not to be named.

Hardships The opposition accuses Mugabe's security forces of abuses, including torture, a position backed by Western powers who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans have watched political tensions rise as an economic crisis ravages their country.

The world's highest inflation rate and severe food and fuel shortages are part of daily life. Zimbabweans who can no longer take the hardship have fled to South Africa and other neighbouring countries, putting pressure on regional economies.

In his media briefing on recommendations that would be given to Southern African heads of state, Salomao declined to answer questions on what the grouping intends to do about Zimbabwe, saying it would be premature before the summit studies options.

But he did conclude after meeting many Zimbabwean businesses, institutions and public enterprises, that the country's economy was viable despite the strain of sanctions.

Zimbabwe's weak and divided opposition groups, as well as the United States and Britain, hope an economic squeeze will loosen Mugabe's grip after 27 years in power.

Zambia was the first African country to criticise Mugabe openly, saying the country that was once a potent symbol of African liberation was "a sinking Titanic". But Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has since toned down his position.

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