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Policy of Quiet Diplomacy by the South
African Government towards the Government of Zimbabwe
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO 3
(STANDING OVER FROM 8 SEPTEMBER 2004 - TRANSFER OF
WRITTEN PQ 349 - PUUBLISHED IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION
PAPER NO 7 OF 30 JUNE 2004
MR WJ SEREMANE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS:
(1) Whether her department intends changing its policy
of quiet diplomacy towards Zimbabwe in the light of
a request made to the President's office on Wednesday,
23 June 2004, by 20 human rights groups led by Amnesty
International for South Africa to place more pressure
on Zimbabwe in the light of its human rights record
and owing to the groups' assertion that quiet diplomacy
is not working; if not, why not; if so, what immediate
policy changes will it make;
(2) whether her department intends taking any steps
to ensure that the Zimbabwean government addresses the
emerging food crisis in the Mashonaland East and Manicaland
provinces; if not, why not; if so, what steps;
(3) what progress has been made in talks between Zanu-PF
and the MDC in relation to reaching a political settlement;
(4) whether her department has identified any policy
alternatives to quiet diplomacy should the situation
in Zimbabwe continue to deteriorate politically and
economically; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details? N389E
REPLY:
(1) No.
(2) The department did not receive any request for food
assistance from Zimbabwe.
(3) The South African Government and President Mbeki
are constantly engaging both
the MDC and ZANU (PF) to find an acceptable and sustainable
solution to their challenges. On 18 December 2003, President
Mbeki had separate meetings with President Mugabe and
Mr. Tsvangirai in Zimbabwe. Both parties undertook to
commence preparations towards final talks. On 29th February
2004, President Mbeki invited both parties to South
Africa with a view to obtaining a briefing on progress
made (based on the promises made in December 2003) and
also to encourage both parties to resume formal and
structured talks. On March 2004, the two parties met
in Harare to assess the situation on talks. This meeting
was followed by another meeting in Pretoria on the 27th
June 2004 where President Mbeki met with the MDC delegation
led by the party's secretary-general Welshman Ncube,
to assess the progress made.
4) No.
END
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