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Zimbabwe

Mbeki rejects EU call for Tsvangirai to rule

Article published on the 2008-07-02 Latest update 2008-07-02 09:52 TU

South African President Thabo Mbeki.(Photo : Reuters)

South African President Thabo Mbeki.
(Photo : Reuters)

South African president and African Union-appointed mediator Thabo Mbeki rejected an EU statement that Europe would only accept a Zimbabwean government if it was headed by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. In Harare, the governing Zanu-PF party says that it is ready to talk to the opposition and has welcomed an African Union call for a unity government.

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Any solution to the political crisis in Zimbabwe would come from negotiation amongst Zimbabweans, Mbeki said on South African radio.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday - the first day of the EU’s French presidency - that the EU would only accept Morgan Tsvangirai as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe, and that the EU may toughen sanctions against the country.

Mbeki’s rejection of this idea was accompanied by a plea to leave Zimbabwe’s future to Zimbabweans.

His comments came as the African Union Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, wrapped-up Tuesday evening. Jean Ping, President of the African Union Commission, speaking as the summit closed, urged SADC to continue its role as primary negotiator.

“The dialogue should continue and be intensified by SADC members, and then we should go to an inclusive government.” Ping said. “SADC, which is primarily in the sub-region, [has been] since the beginning concerned by the problem of Zimbabwe. We continue to back them, to give them the primary role in that, and I have confidence.”

The African Union stopped short of calling for Robert Mugabe’s resignation and, while it condemned irregularities in Zimbabwe’s presidential election, it endorsed Mugabe as the country’s legitimate leader.