"They believe the situation is very bad. They believe things could
collapse in a few months’ time in Zimbabwe," Zuma told reporters after
meeting Annan, former United States President Jimmy Carter and other
prominent figures.
Annan, Carter and human rights champion Graca Machel, who is Nelson
Mandela’s wife, are part of a group of prominent figures and former
statesmen called the Elders. They were barred by Zimbabwe from visiting
to assess a humanitarian crisis there this weekend.
A cholera outbreak that has killed at least 294 people has seen
hundreds of Zimbabweans infected with the disease streaming across the
South African border to seek treatment, South African media reported on
Monday.
The power struggle between President Robert Mugabe and Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai has overshadowed daily
hardships, including food and fuel shortages and hyperinflation, that
have driven millions of Zimbabweans out of the country and strained
regional economies.
Mugabe’s Zanu-PF, the MDC and a smaller MDC faction will meet former
South African President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday to seek a breakthrough
in stalled power-sharing talks, South African President Kgalema
Motlanthe said.
"The agreement is they will meet as of tomorrow and the facilitation
team is working on that basis," Motlanthe told reporters after meeting
Annan and Carter.
Zuma said it was clear that Zimbabwe’s crisis had deteriorated to such an extent that there was an urgent need for action.
"The situation has gone [beyond] where we could say ‘wait and see’," he
said, adding the ANC will be sending a delegation to Zimbabwe to assess
the situation in the country.
"We are pleading for the leadership [of the ruling party and
opposition] for the sake of the people to find a solution that would
help them move forward," Zuma said.
Doubts have grown over Zimbabwe’s September 15 power-sharing agreement
and Mugabe is trying to push through a constitutional amendment
allowing him to name a Cabinet alone, which could lead to the
unravelling of the deal with the opposition.
Tsvangirai has refused to enter the government, accusing Mugabe of
trying to grab the powerful ministries. The main obstacle in talks is
the issue of who runs the Home Affairs Ministry, which oversees the
police.
‘Vulnerable’
Meanwhile, Annan, Carter and Machel visited a church housing Zimbabwean
refugees on Sunday as they continued efforts to ease Zimbabwe’s
humanitarian crisis.
On Sunday, the three talked to men, women and children who have fled
Zimbabwe and sought refugee at the Central Methodist church in downtown
Johannesburg.
Carter spoke to 14-year-old Kennedy Manyani, an orphan who crossed the
crocodile-infested Limpopo River into South Africa by himself three
months ago.
"I came because my grandmother could not afford to buy me clothes, food," he told Carter.
More than 1 600 people are squeezed into the church with many more
sleeping on the pavement outside. An estimated three million
Zimbabweans live in South Africa and millions of others have fled to
neighbouring countries in search of jobs and security.
While Zimbabwe’s political crisis occupies politicians, the humanitarian crisis is deepening.
Annan said at the church it was extremely important for Southern
African countries to realise that regional efforts were needed to
control the cholera epidemic.
The three were met with cheers as they made their way through the cramped building.
"Their visit boosts morale. It shows us that we are not alone," said
Herbert Nedi (24) who helps at the school and adult education centre
the church has started.
Zimbabweans, who were the targets of anti-foreigner violence in South
Africa this year, daily face the risk of arrest, beatings, harassment
and sexual assault.
The church was raided by police this year and a number of refugees — most of whom are undocumented migrants — were deported.
"We are very vulnerable here," said Bishop Paul Verryn. — Reuters, Sapa-AP
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-11-24-growing-fears-of-zim-collapse
Post published in: Uncategorized