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Summit offers no quick fix for Zimbabwe
Joseph Schatz, Associated Press
August 18, 2007

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070818/ap_on_re_af/southern_africa_summit

A summit of southern African leaders expected to deal with Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis closed Friday with no quick fix in sight for the country's problems.

The closing communique made only a brief reference to Zimbabwe's troubles, despite concern in neighboring countries that the turmoil is harming their economies and prompting thousands of destitute people to leave the stricken nation.

The summit declaration welcomed South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The summit "encouraged the parties to expedite the process of negotiations and conclude the work as soon as possible so that the next elections are held in an atmosphere of peace,'' the declaration said, referring to presidential and parliamentary elections expected next year.

Mugabe, who wants to seek another term, drew the biggest applause on the opening day of the summit Thursday, but was absent without explanation for the closing session.

Zimbabwe is in its worst economic crisis since independence in 1980, with runaway inflation and acute shortages of basic commodities. The economic crisis is largely blamed on the seizures of white-owned commercial farms that began in 2000, disrupting the agriculture-based economy.

Many in the West and elsewhere have held Mugabe responsible, and critics complain of state control of the media, widespread intimidation and a clampdown on the pro-democracy movement.

But the welcome Mugabe received at the summit - and the lack of criticism in the closing communique - showed the reluctance of southern African leaders to criticize one of their own, especially one with anti-colonialist credentials.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, whose country took over the rotating chair of the 14-member Southern African Development Community, earlier this year likened Zimbabwe to a "sinking Titanic.''

But at the summit, he was more cautious. Mwanawasa said the "problem of Zimbabwe is not going to be solved through the press.'' He also said southern African leaders were satisfied that Zimbabwe's election laws were "valid.''

* Associated Press Writer Clare Nullis in South Africa contributed to this report.

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