POLITICS: South Africa, Britain Differ on How to Bring Stability to Zimbabwe

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Anthony Stoppard

JOHANNESBURG, May 13 2003 (IPS) - While an economic and political meltdown in Zimbabwe is the most pressing issue in Southern Africa, it is not on the official agenda for talks between the South African foreign ministry and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who jetted into Johannesburg on Tuesday.

This may be because South Africa and Britain differ vastly on how to bring stability to Zimbabwe. South Africa believes in "quiet diplomacy" – constructive engagement with Robert Mugabe’s government – while Britain supports a more robust, pro-rights stance.

Straw will be in South Africa for two days, starting on May 13, officially, for discussions aimed at consolidating relations with South Africa, which is one of Britain’s top trading partners.

"The discussions will focus, among others, on the political and economic situation in Southern Africa, in particular, and the continent of Africa in general", says the spokesperson for the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ronnie Mamoepa.

But insiders say that Zimbabwe will be discussed behind closed doors, specifically last week’s visit by President Thabo Mbeki, Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo and Malawi’s Bakhili Muluzi to broker engagement between Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Also on the agenda will be international peace and security initiatives in the Great Lakes region – including the efforts to end civil conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi.

The Great Lakes region comprises Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) – a programme to kick-start the political and economic development of the continent – and the relationship between Africa and the Group of Eight (G-8) wealthy nations – Britain, France, Russia, the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan and Italy – will also be touched on during the talks.

"In addition, the bilateral meeting will discuss developments in Iraq and the global multilateral system of governance," says Mamoepa.

While the agenda may seem broad, it touches on international issues that are crucial to South Africa and Britain – and over which the two countries, which have exceptionally strong ties, have had sharp differences of late.

While these differences are unlikely to have been damaging to the strong economic and political ties between the two countries, it seems as though both sides still need to gently sound out the state of their relationship on these issues. "Britain views South Africa as a pivotal state and a strategic ally in Africa. South Africa, for its part, will impress on Straw its commitment to enduring good relations with Britain. British backing is needed to make NEPAD a reality," says Kuseni Dlamini, in the South African newspaper, Business Day.

Dlamini is currently based at Oxford University, in Britain. South Africa vociferously opposed the U.S. and British attack on Iraq to disarm it of weapons of mass destruction – and mobilised developing countries in the United Nations against the attack.

Britain is pushing for firmer African and international action against the government of Zimbabwean President Mugabe. Mugabe has been accused by Britain, the European Union (EU) and the United States of rigging Zimbabwe’s last general and presidential elections, disregarding the rule of law and unleashing a wave of terror against his political opponents.

Zimbabwe is also struggling with an economic crisis – exacerbated by the political instability and a drought – which has seen the country running out of food and fuel.

During a visit earlier this year, British minister, Valerie Amos, warned that failure by African governments to take the lead in dealing with the crises in Zimbabwe will undermine international support for NEPAD.

NEPAD promises better trade and aid deals for Africa, in return for sound political and economic governance. African leaders have tried to broker talks between Mugabe and the Zimbabwean opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Despite an upbeat assessment, by the African leaders, of their last round of talks with Mugabe and the opposition, few believe that a breakthrough in the long-running crises is imminent.

The African leaders are under pressure to be seen to be working towards a settlement, specifically getting Mugabe out of office.

Early next month they are scheduled to meet with the G-8 leaders in Evian, France, to discuss the further implementation of NEPAD initiatives. However, if they are seen to be failing to secure improvements in political and economic governance in Africa, then it will be more difficult for them to obtain aid and investment from the wealthy countries – especially when the big donor nations are getting ready to direct their resources to the reconstruction of Iraq.

Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, the treason trial of MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, resumed on May 12. Tsvangirai, along with two colleagues, could face the death penalty if convicted of the charges, which they say have been concocted to discredit opposition to Mugabe.

Tsvangirai is being defended by George Bizos, a South African human rights lawyer who defended former South African President, Nelson Mandela, when he was charged with treason by the then apartheid government in the sixties.