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Statement on the Visit to Zimbabwe by
Deputy President Zuma
Deputy President Jacob Zuma returned from Zimbabwe
this morning and on arrival met with President Mbeki
to brief him about the outcome of the visit.
The visit was part of ongoing consultations between
the two governments, and was initially supposed to take
place on Monday.
The following Ministers accompanied the Deputy President
on the visit to Harare:
* Minister for Public Enterprises, Jeff Radebe.
* Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Thoko Didiza.
* Minister for Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana.
The delegation met with President Robert Mugabe, Vice-President
Joseph Msika and a few Cabinet Ministers including Ministers
of Foreign Affairs, State Security, Finance and Transport.
The two delegations discussed a wide range of issues
relating to the current situation in Zimbabwe.
Among issues raised were the following:
* President Mugabe and his delegation acknowledged that
there were a few areas where incidents of intimidation
occurred in the country, but that most parts of the
country are peaceful and that electioneering was continuing
normally.
* That the two major parties, Zanu-PF and Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) had drafted a Code of Conduct
guiding the behaviour of parties, and that this had
been submitted to the electoral commission.
* The Zimbabwe delegation said it was regrettable that
South African election observers had been caught up
in incidents of violence, and said as a result of this,
protection was being provided to observers who required
it.
* The Zimbabweans assured the South Africans that the
Leader of the Opposition Morgan Tsvangirai had not been
charged with treason as reported in the media, and said
police had only questioned him. They gave assurances
that those contesting the elections would not be interfered
with, that the Zimbabwean government believed in the
principle of fair play for all leaders.
* The Deputy President and delegation were also briefed
on efforts of the Zimbabwean government to deal with
the food shortage situation.
Deputy President Zuma also met with the head of the
South African Parliamentary Observer Team, Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula. She informed him that the team had covered
most parts of the country, and that although there were
areas where there were incidents of intimidation, the
team believes work is going on to ensure a climate conducive
to free and fair elections and that political parties
are co-operating with the observer team.
From the meetings held with the Zimbabwean leadership
and the South African Parliamentary Observer Team, Deputy
President Zuma gained an impression that a lot of effort
is being put into creating an atmosphere that would
make the March 11 elections in Zimbabwe free and fair.
For more information please contact Lakela Kaunda on
082 781 9332.
Issued by The Presidency
Republic of South Africa
PRETORIA
28 February 2002
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