South Africa warns Zimbabwe leaders 'enough is enough'

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Posted to the web: 06/11/2008 11:06:29
SOUTH Africa fired a warning to President Robert Mugabe and his opposition rivals that patience is wearing thin over delays in concluding a power sharing government in Zimbabwe.

South Africa will take a tough line at a regional summit this weekend to end the deadlock over cabinet seats in the new inclusive government, a government spokesman said Thursday.

"This is becoming a matter of extreme concern to us and we will be taking quite a hard stance to make sure that agreement is reached," cabinet spokesman Themba Maseko told reporters.

Jacob Zuma, the head of South Africa's ruling party, called Wednesday on the 15-nation Southern African Community (SADC) regional bloc to pressure Zimbabwe's rival leaders to clinch a deal on a unity government this weekend.

"I think SADC must put its pressure more strongly to these colleagues because what happens in Zimbabwe has effect on the region," African National Congress (ANC) president Zuma said in an interview on public radio.

"I think the region should say to the Zimbabwe leaders that enough is enough. You must resolve this matter; you can't leave South Africa without resolving this matter. That is what I am expecting."

South Africa is to host the extraordinary SADC summit on Sunday in an effort to break the deadlock – which centres on a dispute between President Robert Mugabe and his main opposition rival Morgan Tsvangirai over the control of the police in the new government.

"I think they have deadlocked enough. They need to come here with a positive mind to be ready to compromise," said Zuma, whose predecessor Thabo Mbeki is still serving as SADC Zimbabwe mediator.

"Even if they compromise at this point in time ... as long as it advances the interest of Zimbabweans, that is what we need. That is what we are going to judge them with as to whether these are good leaders for the Zimbabwean people," said the ANC leader, favourite to win the 2009 presidential election.

South Africa's expression of impatience was a sharp change from the style of former President Mbeki, whose softly-softly approach as official southern African mediator has been criticised as ineffective.

Two smaller SADC summits held in Swaziland and Zimbabwe last month failed to end the deadlock.

President Mugabe and his opposition rivals Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara agreed to share power on September 15, but talks have stalled over control of ministries.

Maseko added: "We believe that South Africa and the region cannot be held to ransom by three parties that are failing to reach agreement on the allocation of cabinet posts."

Establishing a unity government is seen as critical to reversing an economic meltdown in the southern African nation where inflation is officially put at 231 million percent. Even under government price controls, the cost of bread is doubling every week.

Zimbabweans are struggling to survive amid widespread shortages of meat, milk and other basic commodities as a result of the collapse of the agricultural sector. The country is dependent on food handouts and malnutrition is on the rise.

Tsvangirai, who would become prime minister under the power-sharing deal, has accused Mugabe's Zanu PF of trying to seize the lion's share of important ministries to try to relegate the MDC to the role of junior partner.

But Zanu PF rejects the claims, saying the MDC leader is being used by western agitators – mainly the United States and Britain -- who want to see the dialogue fail so that the United Nations can step in.

Tsvangirai outpolled Mugabe in a March presidential election but not with enough votes to avoid a run-off. He then pulled out of the second vote, citing violence against his supporters and Mugabe went on to win with a landslide.
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