UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa described as unfair "the world's" criticism of South Africa in its efforts to mediate in Zimbabwe.Addressing the Cape Town Press Club this morning, Holomisa said while
Zimbabwe was never a South African problem, South Africa has been
blamed and its image has been tarnished by accusations that it had
failed that country.
"It’s unfair for the world to make Zimbabwe a South African problem,
expecting South Africa to unilaterally sort out that country. Zimbabwe
was never South Africa’s problem and it is not the tenth province of
this country," said Holomisa.
Holomisa said Britain, with the UN Security Council should have taken a
resolution on Zimbabwe "which we would all implement together".
Following the formation of the new government in Zimbabwe early this
month, the world now needed to hear president Robert Mugabe and prime
minister Morgan Tsvangirai talking about setting an election date, said
Holomisa.
"We need to hear Tsvangirai saying we are in this (government) for this
long and we want to test our strength at the polls on this date."
Otherwise, he said, it would look like Tsvangirai was only interested in securing a government position.
Asked whether he supported South Africa’s financial support of
Zimbabwe, especially following allegations that the R300 million aid
package given to Zimbabwe last September was misused, Holomisa said
South Africa and other countries should continue supporting Zimbabwe,
but should set conditions on how the money should be used.
"It’s the responsibility of our finance minister to give out money, but with conditions."
Holomisa also said that after South Africa’s general elections, the
parliamentary committee on public accounts (Scopa) will call the
finance department to account on the R300m donated to Zimbabwe.
Shifting his focus to the upcoming elections, Holomisa said it was
about time the ANC got punished by voters and that opposition parties
be rewarded. He said the ANC had systematically undermined some
institutions of this country, citing the disbanding of the Scorpions.
Holomisa predicted that the ruling party might lose their two thirds
majority in Parliament and net "about 60%, even below, at the polls".
Holomisa said the emergence of the ANC breakaway party, Cope, threw
another spanner in the works, which could see a coalition government in
at least one province, the Eastern Cape, with the ANC in the opposition
benches.
"I don’t think there will be a clear winner in the Eastern Cape. That
will force political parties to review their positions, even with the
ANC taking the opposition benches."
He said the ruling party had failed to deliver on infrastructure, leaving that province "looking like an Afghanistan landmine".
He said South Africans had to reward his party at the polls, for being consistent and vocal against corruption.
"The UDM challenged the floor-crossing system which was removed last
year; we were part of the people who tried to stop the removal of the
Scorpions and have been vocal, calling for an the arms deal inquiry."