The AU should work speedily with the United Nations to set up a
transitional government to take control in Zimbabwe, the primate of the
Anglican Church of Southern Africa Archbishop Thabo Makgoba added.
At the same time, the archbishop of Cape Town severely criticized the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) for its "disgraceful"
silence over the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe. The SADC, he said in a
statement, has failed and is morally bankrupt.
"I am deeply pained by the terrible deterioration, disease and despair
we are seeing in Zimbabwe," the archbishop said, adding that there is
"total collapse of governance in Zimbabwe, of which we see new evidence
daily."
"But the silence of SADC leaders in general is disgraceful. Why
throughout this crisis have we seen no evidence of public leadership
from King Mswati III, chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence
and Security Co-operation?
"He should not only be taking high-profile action on Zimbabwe, but
needs to show that peace and democracy are possible in his own country.
"Are SADC’s leaders not moved by the terrible human suffering in Zimbabwe?
Where is their ubuntu? Must people be massacred in Zimbabwe’s streets
before SADC will take firm, decisive and public action? Will they, even
then?
"No, SADC has failed and is morally bankrupt. President Mugabe has
demonstrated again and again that he will not share power. He is no
longer fit to rule."
Former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu said Mugabe must
resign or be sent to The Hague for the "gross violations" he has
committed. The Nobel Prize winner told Dutch television that Mugabe
should be removed by force if he refuses to go. He had ruined "a
wonderful country", turning a "bread-basket" into a "basket case".
On Thursday, Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga said African
governments should oust Zimbabwe’s leader. "Power-sharing is dead in
Zimbabwe and will not work with a dictator who does not really believe
in power-sharing."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said it is "well past time"
for Mugabe to go, saying a "sham election" has been followed by a "sham
process of power-sharing talks".