ZIMBABWE — Former South African president Thabo Mbeki arrived in Zimbabwe late Monday in a bid to rescue a fragile power-sharing agreement between the country's political rivals.

 

 

Mbeki left the airport without speaking to reporters and was greeted by Labour Minister Nicholas Goche, Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengengwi and Zimbabwe's ambassador to Pretoria, Simon Moyo.

 

The visit by Mbeki, the longtime mediator in Zimbabwe's political crisis who brokered last month's power-sharing accord, comes after President Robert Mugabe cast further doubt on the deal by swearing in two vice presidents.

 

In another separate development, The President of Botswana, Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, has called for the immediate intervention of SADC, African Union and the United National mediators to resolve the Zimbabwean political impasse.

 

He was speaking at the official opening of the Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) in Francistown on Friday.

 

General Khama’s urgent call follows failure by the Zimbabwean President, Mr Robert Mugabe, and MDC leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, to break a deadlock over the allocation of key cabinet ministries.

He said four weeks ago the heads of states and government from SADC were in Harare to witness the signing of the power-sharing agreement, which they welcomed as a new era for Zimbabwean people.

He said they were hopeful that the signing of the deal would relieve Zimbabweans from the sufferings they were enduring following the disastrous June presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe.

General Khama said latest reports indicate that inflation in Zimbabwe has reached 230 million per cent. Something he described as being beyond comprehension.

He however said after four weeks, the two Zimbabwean political parties were still struggling to find a solution to setting up cabinet.

The president said the political impasse was still continuing “due to what I consider to be selfish desires by one of the parties”.

The political impasses has sent the already battered Zimbabwe dollar tumbling, the economy is shattered as the costs of goods and services are skyrocketing.

The deal, which was mediated by the former South African president, Mr Thabo Mbeki, signed by the leaders of ZANU (PF) and the two MDC formations was seen as the first step in ending the political and economic crisis in the southern African state.

 

Meanwhile, African National Congress (ANC)’s Treasurer, Dr Mathews Phosa says his party supports President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s position regarding the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Dr Phosa who was a guest speaker at the Botswana Democratic Party Women’s Wing fund-raising dinner in Francistown on Saturday said “just because someone was a freedom fighter does not give that person the right to override democracy. No one should claim to be a leader if he is not elected by the people.”

He said ANC believed that SADC should be empowered to act against dictators. “We must put pressure on the ZANU (PF) leader, Mr Robert Mugabe to abide by the principle of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

President Khama was the first and the only SADC leader who openly criticised Mr Mugabe after he lost the March 29 Presidential election.

The MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, also failed to take over power on a constitutional technicality.
However Dr Phosa who was also launching the BDP Women’s Wing motto and theme: “We are Visible, we are Here, you can Trust us,” called on government to increase women representation in all government structures and decision making bodies.

In South Africa, he said, ANC women’s wing once hijacked the conference demanding for the 30 per cent representation and they got it.

Dr Phosa said the South African women further demanded for 50 per cent women representation in government decision making bodies, which they also got.

He was optimistic that one day Botswana would have equal representation of women in all the structure of government and decision making bodies.

Dr Phosa believed that without the direct involvement of women, the challenges that President Khama spoke about during his inauguration would not be achieved.

“When we speak of nation building, poverty alleviation, health and the youth we must surely speak of women and the role that they can play and must play in the socio-economic development and the upliftment of this nation and its people.”

The ANC treasurer praised African women as visible, reliable and trustworthy as well as strong.
He said perfect comradeship and ideal union of the sexes would not only result in the highest development of the race, but also of the nation.

“Women bring with them a practicality and sensibility that is so often lacking in men. Perhaps this is because of the nurturing role that they fulfill as wives, mothers and daughters.”

Dr Phosa said democracy was the cornerstone of Botswana and it must be acknowledged and accepted that in the true spirit of democracy, women must also make a meaningful contribution.
Where women have traditionally played the “behind the scenes” roles in government they must now be prepared to take up their democratic rights and responsibilities in the governance of the nation.

Dr Phosa urged Batswana women to ensure that they always conducted themselves in a manner that would continue to inspire trust.

He pledged R120 000 to the BDP Women’s Wing while the  BDP Secretary General, Mr Jacob Nkate, pledged P5 000.

 

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