Mugabe not on African Union crisis panel for Ivory Coast

An article on the ZBC website said Mugabe was one of the leaders selected to be one of the 6 members of the panel to deal with the electoral crisis in Cote dIvoire following a resolution by the Peace and Security Council meeting last Friday that called for the expansion of the negotiating framework. The Ivory Coast is still referred as the Cote dIvoire in some circles, including political gatherings like the AU.

The panel includes Presidents Robert Mugabe, Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS, SADC Chairman and Namibian President, Hifikepunye Pohamba and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), the ZBC reported.

However, a communiqu released in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday identified the high level panel as the Heads of State of Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Chad, South Africa and Tanzania. This body will be chaired by the Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

MDC-T MP for Kambuzuma, Willas Madzimure, who was in Addis Ababa for the summit in his capacity as the deputy secretary for International Relations in the party, told us the ZANU PF lies have left Mugabe with egg on his face.

He may have been part of the discussion during the closed door session on the Ivory Coast crisis but he was never appointed to sit on the panel. I dont know were the state media got the information from, but that is not the case, Madzimure said.

Maybe they wanted to portray Mugabe as a true statesman in Africa who can still be relied upon to mediate or solve problems for other nations. That is no longer the case now and the other problem is Mugabe is under mediation himself and that would have compromised Jacob Zumas position as mediator for Zimbabwe, the MP added.

Another MDC-T legislator said Mugabe has lost all credibility to be appointed on such important panels, adding he is just struggling to be relevant, hence this unmitigated embarrassment by the state media to lie about his appointment.

Political observers were also up in arms over the appointment of Equatorial Guineas coup plotter, and dictator of 31 years, as the AU chairman for 2011. Critics said President Teodoro Obiangs elevation as chairman could undermine the African Unions attempt to confront other leaders who cling to power.

Analyst Promise Mkwananzi said of Obiangs appointment; I want to believe its very sad for Africa because we are looking at our continent which is evolving towards a democratic culture. This can only be done if you have at the helm of the AU a leadership which aspires and shares the same democratic aspirations.

Mkwananzi added; It is evidently clear that he (Obiang) does not share these aspirations because he does not believe or act in a democratic manner for that sense.