Zanu PF: Zuma's Zimbabwe Mediation Role is Over
Gumbo says Mr. Zuma has completed his assignment in Zimbabwe but MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora believes Zanu PF's assertions are misplaced.
HARARE — Zanu PF says Southern African Development Community-appointed mediator on the Zimbabwean political crisis, South African president Jacob Zuma, must now end his role following Zanu PF's landslide win in the disputed July 31 national elections. But the MDC formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the SADC pointman still has a lot of work to do. Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo tells VOA Studio 7 that Mr. Zuma should now end his facilitation role because the Zimbabwean political dispute has been resolved by the peaceful elections held on July 31. Mr. Zuma took over from former South African president Thabo Mbeki as mediator in the Zimbabwean political dialogue after he assumed office as the South African leader. SADC appointed South Africa to facilitate dialogue between Zanu PF and the MDC following violence that gripped the country in March 2007 in which Mr. Tsvangirai was brutally assaulted with some of his supporters. Gumbo says Mr. Zuma has completed his assignment in Zimbabwe. But MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora says Zanu PF's assertions are misplaced. Although Mr. Zuma congratulated President Mugabe on his July 31 victory, Mr. Mwonzora says the MDC-T and SADC are both convinced that the elections were peaceful but not credible. Ordinary people such as Harare resident, Terry Mutsvangwa, say life may become difficult for many people if SADC washes its hands on Zimbabwe's political problems. Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya, director of the local thinktank - Zimbabwe Democracy Institute - says Zanu PF should not tell President Zuma what to do on his mediation role in Zimbabwe because he was not appointed by Zanu PF or the MDC formations but the regional bloc. SADC leaders are expected to meet in Lilongwe, Malawi, Saturday where Mr. Zuma is expected to present his report on the situation in Zimbabwe.