Mbeki Boycotts SADC Emergency Talks on Zimbabwe

(Tichaona Sibanda)--An emergency meeting of the Southern African Development Community Troika on Defence and Security in Swaziland is expected to recommend to Zimbabwe’s political leadership that it should form a transitional government, as the first step towards resolving the crisis.

But the meeting was boycotted by South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki’ spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga told journalists that the South African leader would not be attending because ‘he had not been invited.’ But SADC’s executive secretary, Tomaz Salomao, said Mbeki had been invited, as the main mediator on the Zimbabwe crisis. It’s reported that he had a discussion with the Swazi king overnight, instead of attending. Reports from Pretoria suggest Mbeki may attend a meeting later on Wednesday, that will also be attended by Zambian leader Levy Mwanawasa, in his capacity as SADC chairman.

Reports from Mbabane said King Mswati of Swaziland and Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete attended the meeting. A representative of Angola’s President also attended. Regional leaders are putting pressure on Mugabe to call off the elections but he has refused, saying he will only engage in dialogue after elections. Analysts say this indicates that he wants to be in position of strength in any negotiations that he might be pressured to attend.

A transitional government appears to be the most acceptable option to African leaders as it does not leave power heavily invested in any one political party. However, it’s composition and who will lead it would undoubtedly cause a lot of headaches. Zanu PF has already stated that Mugabe would only ever consider a government of national unity if he was the head.

Amid international condemnation of the escalating state sponsored violence in Zimbabwe, SADC’s leaders are under pressure to respond. Diplomatic efforts are shifting into top gear with SADC leaders seemingly taking the lead in tackling the situation in Zimbabwe.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga revealed in Nairobi on Wednesday that during his discussion with the AU chairman Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday, the two had agreed it was time African leaders took a firm stand on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Kikwete will also chair an AU summit in Egypt next weekend where the situation in Zimbabwe will once again come under the spotlight.

Odinga said in his discussion with Kikwete he had suggested the need to appoint a mediator if the elections went ahead Friday, including the appointment of a supervisory team from the AU with support from the United Nations. This team would presumably deal with the aftermath of what will clearly be discredited elections.

Already there are names being suggested for the mediatory role, including former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ketumile Masire, the former president of Botswana.

There has been wide international condemnation of the violence but SADC is seen as the only body that can influence events in Zimbabwe. Several of its member states have been flooded by millions of refugees, fleeing the economic collapse of Mugabe’s regime.

South Africa’s African National Congress has accused Mugabe of ‘riding roughshod over hard-won democratic rights’ and said it could not remain ‘indifferent to the flagrant violation of every principle of democratic governance.’ Jacob Zuma, the ANC leader, said the situation in the Zimbabwe is ‘out of control’ and called for the UN and regional leaders to intervene, urgently.

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