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Mugabe to get SADC aid, with no conditions
Mpumelelo Mkhabela, Sunday Times (SA)
August 19, 2007

http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=542834

President Thabo Mbeki told Southern African heads of state this week that his efforts to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe had not produced final outcomes. Speaking at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state summit in Lusaka, Zambia, Mbeki said that his role was still a "work in progress". The SADC leaders also made it clear that they would prop up the ailing economy of Zimbabwe.

The 14-member body had mandated Mbeki to facilitate a solution to the turmoil, which saw President Robert Mugabe's government brutally assaulting opposition leaders. Mbeki told his counterparts that talks between the Zanu PF government and the Movement for Democratic Change factions were "progressing smoothly". A communiqué, read out at the end of the summit on Friday, said Mbeki had informed the meeting that talks between the rival organisations were "progressing". However, it did not stipulate what kind of progress had been made.

According to the communiqué, the summit commended Mbeki and welcomed "the progress" he had made. It also "encouraged the [Zimbabwean] parties to expedite the process of negotiations and conclude work as soon as possible so that the next elections are held in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity". Delegates at the summit loudly applauded when SADC deputy secretary Joao Caholo read a line in the statement which indicated that the SADC would draw up an economic plan "to support Zimbabwe". Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections next March. Later Mbeki told South African journalists that, under his facilitation, Zanu PF and the MDC had held several meetings. "They are continuing to talk among themselves and they are making progress in the discussions. "And as soon as there is an outcome of that process, we will report to the new chair of the SADC organ on politics, José Eduardo dos Santos [Angolan president]."

Mbeki said that once Dos Santos had received the report, he might call a special summit on the issue. Mbeki ruled out the possible involvement of Zimbabwean civil society groups in the talks. The SADC countries are also planning a rescue plan for Zimbabwe's collapsing economy. The SADC secretariat tabled a report to the heads of states about its findings on the causes of Zimbabwe's economic meltdown. Earlier in the week, SADC secretary Tomaz Salomão said the report confirmed that Zimbabwe's economy had been hit by sanctions, causing its deterioration. He said SADC was willing to help Zimbabwe. Mbeki said that the report on the economic situation would be handed to SADC's finance ministers, who would craft the plan for Zimbabwe's economic recovery. Other ministers could also back up the finance ministers. He said SADC would not attach conditions to the recovery plan. Instead, the regional body had separated political and economic problems, in a bid to address them individually.

"We are looking for a global solution to the problems facing Zimbabwe. Nobody is looking for conditionalities. Nobody said there should be conditionalities to finding solutions. Solutions must be found - that's all," he said. Deadlines were not allocated for Mbeki's facilitation process or for the crafting of the economic recovery plan. "Nobody has spoken about a specific date, but it is the process that will determine that. On the economic one, everybody is saying there is urgency on this matter and that the finance ministers will engage this matter immediately," said Mbeki. Meanwhile, Mugabe has told the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation that his government has initiated its own economic recovery plan, anchored on reviving the country's declining agricultural production. Mbeki, who is deputy chairman of SADC, will host next year's summit where he is expected to be elected chairman before he leaves office as head of state in 2009.

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