Zanu PF Continues Regional Apology Spree

SW Radio Africa (London)

Alex Bell

21 April 2011

ZANU PF has continued its efforts to make amends for outbursts against leaders in the region, with Joice Mujuru reportedly being dispatched to apologise to South African President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma in particular has faced the brunt of ZANU PF’s anger, following the surprisingly stern rebuke by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) last month. During a meeting of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security in Zambia, Zuma and other leaders cornered Mugabe over his refusal to fully implement the coalition agreement that kept him in power. The grouping later issued a statement demanding an immediate end to violence, intimidation, hate speech and harassment, and pledged to develop a roadmap towards credible elections.

It’s widely understood that it was a scathing report by Zuma on the state of Zimbabwe’s political crisis that spurred SADC to change its tone towards the situation. The report, which was handed to the SADC Troika as well as the principals in the unity government, has not officially been made public.

But according to South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, which saw the document, Zuma had harsh warnings about the political stalemate.

Zuma reportedly admonished all three parties in the coalition government for not implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA). He also warned that public revolts and “unprecedented upheavals,” seen in North Africa recently, would happen in Zimbabwe if there weren’t major reforms. It was on the back of this warning that SADC then took a hard line with the unity government, leaving ZANU PF noticeably angry.

A furious Mugabe launched a scathing attack after the summit, accusing SADC of trying to interfere in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs. He claimed Zuma was just a facilitator to the dialogue and “cannot prescribe anything,” while saying that SADC has no business ‘meddling’ in Zimbabwe’s affairs.

The state owned Sunday Mail newspaper then took its cue from Mugabe and published an editorial branding Zuma ‘erratic’ and ‘disaster-prone’. They described him as a “liability, not only to South Africa, but also to the rest of the continent”. An opinion piece by ZANU PF spin doctor, Jonathan Moyo, was also published in the same paper, saying: “Zuma is now tainted beyond recovery by the Libyan situation”, after his country voted on the UN Security Council in favour of imposing a no-fly zone.

ZANU PF has since backtracked, apparently worried about being isolated in the region. Moyo was summoned by Mugabe’s deputy Joice Mujuru and sharply reprimanded for his opinion piece that blasted Zuma. Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, was also tasked with making amends, taking out a full page supplement in the state owned Herald newspaper, claiming the views of the Sunday Mail editorial did not reflect the views of the government.

Mujuru has since reportedly been deployed to apologise to Zuma on her party’s behalf, and it’s understood that she traveled to South Africa to do so. ZANU PF’s spokesman, Rugare Gumbo, has however said he knows nothing of such an apology. Mugabe meanwhile has also been back-pedaling from his attacks on SADC. He told thousands of people during Independence Day celebrations on Monday, that he appreciates SADC’s role in resolving the Zimbabwe crisis, and that he remains ‘committed’ to the unity government.

The apparent pandering to SADC and Zuma has coincided with more talks by the party negotiators in the unity government who, together with facilitators from South Africa and SADC, are trying to form a roadmap towards fresh elections. That draft roadmap is set to be delivered to SADC leaders at their next Heads of State Summit, scheduled for May.

ZANU PF has been pushing for an election to take place this year, but South Africa has now made it clear it will not endorse any election plan that is drafted unilaterally by Mugabe’s party. A source within the South African Presidency has reportedly said that Zuma will not give his blessing as the regional mediator in Zimbabwe, to any poll that is not agreed to by the entire unity government.

According to the Daily News, the source said; “Zimbabwe’s inclusive government is a creation of the region and South Africa played a key role in the crafting of that GPA, culminating in Pretoria being asked by the region to be the chief facilitator of the conversations that are still taking place in Harare. To that extent, South Africa would never endorse an election that is not an outcome of negotiations within the GPA framework.”

There has been a very cautious welcome to SADC and Zuma’s apparent change from their usual policy of quiet diplomacy towards the Zimbabwe situation. But observers have pointed out that the region is still reluctant to take real action, after not singling out ZANU PF as the primary reason for the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Athol Trollip, from South Africa’s main political opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that SADC’s position is still not good enough. Trollip has been calling for a tough stance on Zimbabwe since former President Thabo Mbeki was the regional mediator. He said Zuma, Mbeki’s successor, has made no difference to the situation in Zimbabwe.

“The status quo remains. There is an escalation of violence, Mugabe continues to ignore the GPA. What admonishments there have been from SADC and from Zuma have been entirely limp wristed,” Trollip said.

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