Zimbabwean Facilitation Process Remains on Course

The South African Government has noted media reports suggesting the SADC-led mediation process in Zimbabwe has all but collapsed. Nothing is further from the truth.

The South African government puts it on record that there is no shred of truth in the suggestion that President Robert Mugabe has spurned the SADC-led facilitation process as reported in the weekend media. Accordingly, the SADC facilitation process between the Zanu-PF and the MDC under the leadership of President Thabo Mbeki remains on course.

The government rejects the falsehood peddled in the media that President Mugabe has "ordered his key party negotiators to boycott negotiations that were supposed to resume in Pretoria this week"

The Zanu-PF delegation could not attend the scheduled discussions in Pretoria this week due to prior engagements and for this they tendered an apology to the South African government. In this regard, efforts are under way to set a new date for the facilitation talks in which the Zanu-PF delegation will attend.

Whilst the government appreciates the keen media interest in the Zimbabwean facilitation process, the government cautions the media from peddling falsehoods that will only help subtract rather than add to the momentum of helping find a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean situation.

Accordingly, whatever South Africans do, they ought to ask the question whether this will advance or deter the cause of facilitation in Zimbabwe. For its part the government remains committed to the mandate of SADC to assist the people of Zimbabwe in their endeavour to find a solution to their political and economic challenges.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

15 July 2007