MDC accuses SADC of 'playing ping-pong' on Zimbabwe

MDC accuses SADC of 'playing ping-pong' on Zimbabwe

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By Torby Chimhashu

A FACTION of Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has accused the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) of "playing ping-pong" with the lives of Zimbabweans by accepting that the country's problems stem from Britain's failure to support land reforms and sanctions.

SADC leaders met President Robert Mugabe for crisis talks in Tanzania last week. After the meeting, the SADC leaders urged western countries to lift targeted sanctions against Mugabe and senior ruling Zanu PF party officials.

Tendai Biti, the secretary general of a faction of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai accused SADC leaders of swallowing dishonest submissions by Mugabe's government.

"SADC's view of our crisis is totally dishonest and mendaciously constructed," Biti said in an interview Sunday. "It is not honest to say Britain must pay compensation for the land when the land has actually been acquired from white commercial farmers.

"Zimbabweans are suffering from Mugabe's misrule not economic sanctions. Targeted sanctions are not economic sanctions. SADC has been taken for a ride on the issues of land and sanctions," Biti told New Zimbabwe.com.

He added: "SADC is playing ping-pong with the people of Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans are the biggest losers. Those who are holding the bats should stop playing ping-pong with the lives of Zimbabweans."

A special summit of the Sadc last Thursday urged the West to drop sanctions against Mugabe's government and appealed to Britain to "honoUr its commitments" to fund land reforms in its former colony.

The summit came amid Western calls for a tougher line on Mugabe's most recent political crackdown on human rights activists and opposition members.

Leaders at the Tanzania summit put South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki in charge of defusing Zimbabwe's deepening political crisis.

Biti said the involvement of President Thabo Mbeki in the troika to mediate between Mugabe and the opposition is not new.

While maintaining the MDC has faith in Mbeki, Biti pointed out that Mbeki had failed in the past to prevail over Mugabe.

"We saw him (Mbeki) in 2002 when Zimbabwe was still part of the Commonwealth. He was part of the troika that included Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo.

"Mbeki was again involved in the collapsed talks between the MDC and Zanu PF. We have faith in President Mbeki but have no faith in Mugabe. As long as we have guarantees that come 11 March, 2008, Mugabe quits, it's ok. We would love to say good bye to uncle Bob," said Biti. "There must be a firm decision on that".

He said his party was ready to engage Zanu PF in a dialogue aimed at resolving the current crisis which has thrown the once prosperous southern African nation towards the precipice.

"We are ready to engage Zanu PF but on condition that Mugabe is not part of the process. Mugabe belongs to the past and is not part of the future. It’s up to Zanu PF. It must accept that Mugabe is a liability.

"We think he is delusional and dishonest. Mugabe has no relation to reality. He is caught up in a cold wartime frame. His body demeanour does not reflect someone in total control of his mental faculties," said Biti.

"If Mugabe's performance on Zimbabwe was a school card, it could have read that he is an irredeemable and incorrigible kid who does not know how to spell and write his name."

Biti spoke as the ruling Zanu PF resolved to field Mugabe as its candidate in next year's Presidential elections.

"The candidate of the party will be the President (Mugabe) himself. He was endorsed by the central committee at the meeting today," said Shamuyarira Friday, adding the presidential term will be cut to five years from the current six.

Mugabe outfoxed hopefuls - Emmerson Mnangagwa and Joice Mujuru - to earn the right to represent his party in watershed elections that could end his rule.

Although both Mnangagwa and Mujuru have so far not commented, it is believed Mugabe will face a tough time to win the support of disgruntled provinces that are against his decision to stand again.

Mugabe has faced international condemnation over a brutal crackdown on opponents and stands accused of running down Zimbabwe's economy with reckless abandon.

Last month, security agents, at the behest of the 83-year-old leader launched a crackdown on the leadership of the two MDC factions which saw dozens of activists arrested and some beaten in police custody.

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