Ian Davidson the Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of International Relations and Co-Operation, said such a stance taken by the southern African development Community-appointed mediator to the Zimbabwean crisis cast doubt in Zimbabwe holding a credible poll.
He was referring to President Jacob Zuma criticizing his international relations advisor, Lindwe Zulu, for commenting on problems surrounding the election process.
“This is indicative of the South African government’s failure to ensure peaceful democratic elections by the exercising of soft diplomacy in their approach towards Zimbabwe. This has since led to panic in the South African government ranks as there is no clear strategy to maintain free, fair and peaceful elections on July 31.
It is clear that the South African government’s quiet diplomacy has done nothing to curtail poor pre-election preparations and continued aggression towards voters, especially in rural constituencies. It is now time for President Zuma to consider a hard line approach,” Davidson said in a statement on Monday.
Davidson raised concern at the chaotic manner which the special vote was conducted last week. The special vote has been poorly managed as voting began late on July 14 and 15.
Zuma’s predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, previously came under pressure for his so-called quiet diplomacy on Zimbabwe.
He however brokered the current power sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations following disputed elections in 2008.
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