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South Africaās Zuma Missed Opportunity to Resolve Zimbabwe Crisis, Says an
Analyst

   A  political  analyst  says South African President Jacob Zuma did not
   put  enough  pressure  to  ensure President Robert Mugabe resolves the
   ongoing stalemate in Zimbabweās coalition government.

   Peter Clottey 17 March 2010
   South  African  President,  Jacob  Zuma  (L)  and Zimbabwe's PM Morgan
   Tsvangirai (R) greet each other in Harare, 16 Mar 2010

Photo: AP

   South  African  President,  Jacob  Zuma  (L)  and Zimbabwe's PM Morgan
   Tsvangirai (R) greet each other in Harare, 16 Mar 2010

   A  political  analyst  says South African President Jacob Zuma did not
   put  enough  pressure  to  ensure President Robert Mugabe resolves the
   ongoing stalemate in Zimbabweās coalition government.

   Rejoice  Ngwenya  said  President  Zuma  missed a great opportunity to
   resolve  the  ongoing  crisis as he ends a three-day official visit to
   Zimbabwe Thursday.

   āFrankly  speaking, President Zuma has been very disappointing because
   he  has  given  too  many  excuses why Mr. Robert Mugabe should not be
   called  upon  to  account  on reneging on the agreement. And really we
   feel  that  he  lacks  the  depth  to  be  able  to deal with Mugabeās
   political  chicaneryā¦  and  I  donāt think he is going to move Mugabe
   much,ā He said.

   Mr.  Zuma  is  backed  by  the  Southern African Development Community
   (SADC)   to   resolve   the  Zimbabwe  crisis  after  years  of  sharp
   disagreements  between  President  Mugabeās ZANU-PF and Prime Minister
   Morgan Tsvangiraiās Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

   Prime  Minister  Morgan  Tsvangiraiās  MDC  party  recently  boycotted
   cabinet  meetings after accusing President Mugabe of refusing to fully
   implement  the Global Political Agreement that led to the formation of
   the unity government.

   Ngwenya  said  President Zuma should have been tougher on the partners
   in the coalition government.

   āWe  want  him to be firm with both parties. We know that the issue of
   sanctions  even if it is a so-called contentious issue is beyond MDCās
   control. Now, we also know that the aspect of the agreement to freedom
   in  the  media  the  violation  of  human rights and so forth are only
   associated  with  ZANU-PF  and Mugabe. He (Zuma) hasnāt mentioned that
   (and)  our  feeling  is  that  he  hasnāt been firm enough with Robert
   Mugabe,ā Ngwenya said.

   Zimbabwe  media  reported  both  Mr.  Mugabe  and  Mr. Tsvangirai were
   positive after meeting separately with President Zuma.

   Ngwenya  said  there  is  need  for reforms that would ensure credible
   elections in the future.

   āThe  caveat  is  that  unless  the  electoral  playing field has been
   leveled; the freedom of association, criminal codification and all the
   other  elements  that  had  been impediments to the people of Zimbabwe
   expressing themselves in the ballot box, the talk of elections is just
   another myth,ā Ngwenya said.

   During his recent official visit to the United Kingdom, Mr. Zuma asked
   Britain  and  other international donors to lift the sanctions against
   Zimbabwe  contending  that  the  sanctions  against President Mugabeās
   regime are suffocating the unity government.

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