Money spent by the South African Government in the Mediation Process in Zimbabwe on Travelling Expenses, Accommodation, Refreshments and Security for the Mediator, his Team and the Negotiating Teams for the MDC-T, MDC-M and ZANU-PF

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 1803

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER No: 31 OF 17 OCTOBER 2008

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Mr W J Seremane (DA) to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

(1 Since 1 January 2005 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, what is the total amount of money spent by the Government in the mediation process in Zimbabwe on

(a) traveling expenses,
(b) accommodation,
(c) refreshments and
(d) security for

(i) the mediator,
(ii) his team and
(iii) negotiating teams for the MDC-T, MDC-M and ZANU-PF

NW2598E

REPLY: 

Between 2005 and 2006, the Department of Foreign Affairs did not incur any expenses regarding South Africa’s role in resolving the situation in Zimbabwe.

It was only after the appointment of former President Mr Thabo Mbeki as a Facilitator at the Extraordinary SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam in April 2007 that the Department began to incur costs in support of the mediation. These costs were for accommodation and ground transport for the MDC and ZANU-PF negotiating teams as well as costs for air-tickets for the MDC representatives.

My Department recorded the following expenses related to our role in the SADC-mandated facilitation process during the period May 2007 – September 2008:

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN

In addition, my Department also paid for the air-tickets, subsistence and travel (S&T) and accommodation of seven retired South African generals, who were deployed within the facilitation context, to Zimbabwe to investigate alleged incidents of violence in the post-election period following the 29 March 2008 harmonised elections.

COSTS FOR THE RETIRED GENERALS’ MISSION

GRAND TOTAL FOR 2007 AND 2008:   R 7 828 331.87

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