South African rescue package to Zimbabwe

South African rescue package to Zimbabwe


By Tichaona Sibanda
02 August 2005



A leading Zimbabwe human rights lawyer says South Africa's financial
rescue package, which is being conditionally offered to Zimbabwe, is a
clear admission that Thabo Mbeki's quite diplomacy has failed to yield
any positive results.Gabriel Shumba, a lawyer and activist based in
Johannesburg, is asking how the South African government is going to
hold the Zanu (PF) regime to conditions, when they've failed to do so
up to now.

Mugabe has appealed to Mbeki to be bailed out to the tune of R6,5
billion, in spite of his appalling record of battering the opposition,
human rights abuses and disregarding basic freedoms.

Among the terms of the rescue deal would be that Zimbabwe return to the
rule of law and that Zanu (PF) step up talks with the opposition MDC;
lift restrictions on the media and civil groups and protect the
property rights of South African investments in the country. Reserve
Bank governor of South Africa, Tito Mboweni, is reported to have
declared that he will not authorise any payment to Zimbabwe or to the
IMF unless Mugabe signals his commitment to these conditions. Already
Mugabe has ruled out any future dialogue with the MDC, telling his
supporters on his return from his futile trip to China that there would
be no talks between his party and the opposition.
Shumba, a torture victim at the hands of Mugabe's notorious state
security agents, is adamant Mugabe will agree in principle to the terms
but will renege as soon as the money his in his hands. 'Mugabe has
reneged on most, if not all, other promises he has made before. And how
is the South African government going to monitor how those funds will
be used,' asked Shumba.





SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news

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