The 11th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) has recommended that Southern African Development Community (SADC),s mediation efforts in Zimbabwe should continue in order to assist the people and the leadership of Zimbabwe resolve their political problems.
The AU said SADC under the leadership of President Levy Mwanawasa should establish a mechanism on the ground to quickly find a negotiated solution to the problems in Zimbabwe.
This is contained in the draft resolution on Zimbabwe, released towards the closure of the two-day AU Egypt summit.
ZANIS reports The African heads of state said they were happy with the willingness of political leaders of Zimbabwe to enter into negotiations to etstablish a government of national unity.
They urged President Mugabe and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue in order to promote peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people.
The African heads of State said they supported calls for the creation of a government of national unity in Zimbabwe and were happy that discussions on this matter had already started under the facilitation of SADC.
The presidents appealed to states and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue.
“In the spirit of all SADC initiatives, the AU remains convinced that the people of Zimbabwe will be able to resolve their differences and work together once again as one nation provided they receive undivided support from SADC, the AU and the world at large,” the draft resolution said.
They registered deeply concerned over loss of life and negative reports of SADC, the AU and the Pan-African Parliamentary observers on the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off elections held on June 27 this year.
They commended SADC, South African President Thembo Mbeki and the chairperson of AU Jean Ping for their on-going work aimed at reconciling the political parties in Zimbabwe.
The leaders recognised however that the political situation in Zimbabwe was very complex to deal with.
ZANIS/MB/MK/ENDS
We need to be resolute and firm on Zimbabwe.It is a disgrace to to the region and Africa as a whole.The decisions made must really be implemented and carried forward otherwise it will have been a watste of resources to hold the meeting
This AU summit is a joke. I highly doubt any head of state is going to speak up against Zimbabwe.
“If you live in a glass house, don’t throw rocks”
If you look at majority of the leaders at this summit, most of them have gone into power using dubious methods (e.g Vote Rigging, Human Rights violations, etc) and you expect this lot to talk against Zimbabwe.
Does anyone expect the President of Sudan or President of Egypt to speak against Zimbabwe when they also have a record. HA!!! African leaders really are the joke of the heard. Birds of the same feather flock together.
Solution, let the USA and British send in there armies. That is best for everyone.
Crazy #2 what is it you are rumbling about now? Please spare us your jokes. We all know the dire situation Zim is in right now – and its not a joking matter, but please desist from such careless talk of military intervention from the UK or the USA. Is’nt Iraq (not to mention Afghanistan) a lesson enough for the world? In whose interests are you making those statements? My friend just shut up if you can and try to show real leadership! Ala!
#3. Nkabwela (Diaspora)
With more than 50% of African leaders getting to power using Dubious methods, do you honestly expect anything from them. And with some saying “there is no crisis in Zimbabwe” when he is a neighbour and can actually see the crisis, do you expect African leaders to act???
Now differences between Afghanistan/Iraq and Zimbabwe. USA invaded Afghanistan so as to have an excuse to invade Iraq because of Iraq’s oil reserves. Does Zimbabwe have oil??? No.
Which is why the USA/BRITAIN will have no incentive to stay in the country. They’ll just remove the tyrant and move on.
If Africans wont act, let the west act.
I am so disappointed with our African leaders. They developed cold feet when they looked Mugabe into the eyes. Mugabe should have been condemned openly; he should have been suspended from the AU and SADC. I applaude the stance taken Botswana. It’s unfortunate our President fell ill, I guess he too would have come out hard on Zim. My prayers are with you my President HE Levy. I pray that God will libereted the people of ZIM from the brutal old dictator Uncle Bob!
is this not the same sort of arrangement Mugabe came to with Joshua Nkomo???..before killing him off politically!!!..the man lost the election and should be forced to go!!!!
….I think the biggest *****s are the Army and police force of Zimbabwe that are protecting Mugabe’s aged ass. They are the biggest cowards (I am not insinuating coup). I wonder what Bob is giving them. They just roam the pot holed, dry streets of Harare with torn uniforms hanging on their fleshless bodies and polish less finished shoes the whole day…. Its really a sad and pathetic sight!
I just read on iol.co.za that Mugabe stormed out of the AU Summit and headed for the airpot. He didn’t like the resolution to for a GNU (Government of Nartional Unity).
More pressure must be applied to get rid of that terrorist. What Mugabe is doing is worse than what the other dictators are doing. He should not be left scot free simply because there are other dictators in Africa. I have never heard of a judgment passed in favour of a thief on the basis that other thieves haven’t been caught or because some police officers are also involved in crime. If you breach rules expect action despite what has been or not been done to others in simlar situations. I like Botswana’a stance.
Being african and being led by bunches of sellout is aserious Joke in Africa. Africa isgoing nowhere with this kind of governance.
Guys lets learn to face facts and stick to the topic.No other African country can be compared to Zimbabwe at the present moment.If we stick to the topic and remain focused on condenming Zimbabwe as we did against Kenya’s kibaki, it will be a lesson to all of the rest of leaders.On the other hand if we condenm everyone it gives courage to all those that rigged elections.However, in Zimbabwe;s case its not about rigging elections,the man lost the elections.Zimbabwe is going to the dogs and so are three or four other countries mentioned in the OU chairman’s speech.The problem in Zimbabwe is instability,violation of human rights and poor economy.There is no peace in Zimbabwe.Mugabe should go
What the AU is implying is that if any of the countries in Africa one day have a guy like Mugabe in power, they will do nothing. Be afraid, very afraid. Zambia and Botswana should boycott the next SADC meeting in South Africa, its a waste of time.
Gibby, the man lost the first round but arguably ‘won’ the runoff. Morgan should not have withdrawn at the 11th hr. But this 50+1 issue cost him presidency in the 1st place. In Africa the opposition is bent on 50+1, but at the same time they dont want it if it appears not to suit them. Forget about the climate of violence which all have just been told about especially by the major western media outlets who do not even have ground bases. We dont know may those shown brutalised some of them could be Zanu-PF supporters. They chose a few and leave others. I dont subscribe to the notion that only Zanu-pf supporters were bting MDC pipo. It is simply not true. Media coverage? was it fair in 1st rd?
it is unfortunate if you can find that dictators and opportunists like GADAFFI are the main people who talk the loudest in Africa then you know that African problems can not end.
This is the chap who wants UNITED STATES OF AFRCA,what a waste of time.
Gadaffi,Replish Mbita Chintala with the MONEY you gave him to sell his country over the so called ONE AFRICA.
That summit missed Levy,he would have told them what all of them are avoiding to say to Mugabe.
Mr Mbeki,it is unfortunate that the World cup will be hosted in your country,criminals(mostly blacks will be happiest to kill innocent foreighners.
The only mistake Mandela made was to nominate you for Presidency..
The AU is still gentle-man club. This is where dictators, coup-plotters and Vote rigging specialist meet to have some braai. The AU was formed to uphold democratic ideals, foster development and social tranformation. Unfortunately we still have bad eggs like Mugabes who are actually in majority in Africa. Unfornately we need to wait for the Mugabes of Africa to leave the scene before Africa can enjoy its resources
What difference will this make, these guys are jokers and they are jokes themselves. Did they convince Mbeki that Zim is now in a crisis as incoming chair of SADC.
its all useless AU stuff…you chaps are all cowards and failures…
isolate Robbie.
It is a shame that Africans can’t even solve their own problems.Is it that Levy is the only one really seeing whats happening in Zim? If nothing will be done soon, expect xenophobic attacks in all countries surrounding Zim.
Mwe bantu, tushani first……The issues of Africa are complecated, all African leaders to start can not attack mugabe,reason why? coz alot of them have held power since independence and they keep manipulating elections in their countries,can someone remind me when was Mubarack of egypt was elected? the list is long,if i was to name all of them.Now Zim people should unite and liberate themselves,no country has ever liberated another,stop asking the US and UK to come and do something in Zim, Zim is how it is today coz of those two,if you ever let US do something for you then you will forever owe them, Africa unite
The truth is there is no democracy in the world.There has never been nor will there be.Tell me which contry has democracy.
Do not be fooled by the USA and UK they were in the forefront of slave trade.They use the media to control the world.Sky,Fox and most of the news papers of the world are owned by RUPERT MURDOCH.They tell you only their side and there is a lot of cover up.It is only TODAY that Mandele`s name was taken out of the terrorist list.Pray for your leaders and love them,Mugabe included.
if you can still believe that US/UK/etc care about the well-being/human rights of the people of zimbabwe, you should revisit your belief system. you must ask yourself WHEN mugabe’s type of rule suddenly became an issue for the US/UK??? many of you seem to believe that mugabe is by his very nature an evil evil man (i don’t presume to know if that’s is the truth or not, but many of you seem to “know”) so if that is the case WHY was he the golden-child of the US/UK for 20 YEARS (regardless of what he did to his people – example ndebele). and ask yourself WHY do they “care” NOW….. can you say LAND????? AFRICA UNITE
before the UK thinks of invading zimbabwe (AGAIN!!!!), this time they should plan carefully and while they go about the supposed BUSINESS of “liberating” people (AGAIN!) they should start with all the others…..libya, gabon, cameroon, sudan, uganda, angola, DRC,
and while they are at the gruesome business let them not forget tibet, myanamar, khazikstan, north korea, iran….
and while they are busy doing that maybe we africans should ask ourselves why they are always the ones allowed to write the “list” of who’s “evil”??? when do we get to define who is good or bad? when do other voices get to speak about what can also be perceived as violence inflicted by the very same countries (us/uk) who are busy defining who is good and who is bad? and by what metric do they make such determinations? if we are going to be measured and found wanting we should at least know the metric by which we are suppose to conform?
…..you guys are busy complaining here, them African leaders when they meet, they will be busy charting about silly things while drinking expensive whiskey and smoking expensive cigars (by the way all at tax payers money) while carefully eying the nearest potential bonk available in the room for the night
VC i get your point and i dont claim that its only Zanu pf brutalising people,it could be the other way round too.But so far its only Shangirai that has been arrested NOT Mugabe.Killings, arrests are seeds that dont easily go away and one day they will be trees and are more difficult to deal with.These killings would have been avoided.The entire climate in Zimbabwe was and is not conducive to holding free and fair elections in a democracy.Mugabe should not be made to belive he is the only person in Zimbabwe who can rule the country.To use force to rule people is not fair at all and has no place in modern politics.Zimbabweans are tired of Mugabe and can accept another person within Zanu-pf
gibby – tell me which country in the world has had free and fair democratic elections? if the US – the so-called owners of ‘democracy’ – cant even have a rig-free election then who? you r right that mugabe is not the only capable leader but so-called “modern” politics employs the use of force (to various degrees) all the time.
mugabev a big fool, mbeki is like a peice of pap.
mbeki and mugabe have somehting in common, how can normal person in the name of mbeki support mugabe the zim idi amin who eats butocks of women and children. mbeki too is like bob nowanderther is zenophobia in sa