Open Letter to President Mbeki

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (ACDP)

Thursday, 22 August 2002

Honourable President Mbeki

It is with great disappointment that I refer to the programme of activities, put together by Kgalema Motlanthe (ANC) and Adebayo Adedeji from West Africa, designed to start the process of securing a political agreement between the MDC and Zanu PF as part of the action plan laid down by the Commonwealth Troika when they last met in London. I am concerned because this promising attempt to facilitate a solution has, clearly been abandoned, just as the majority of Zimbabweans feel they have been.

The object of this initiative was commendable in that it facilitated the private meeting of MDC and Zanu PF representatives to set an agenda for discussions and then thrash out an agreement on a way forward and if these efforts failed Troika was then to become directly engaged. This however has not been the case and it appears that all attempts to facilitate talks between the two parties and find a way forward, which is acceptable to Zimbabweans, have died.

Inexplicably and regrettably, the direct involvement of South Africa and Nigeria, and the direct participation of their respective Presidents has so quickly disintegrated that it appears to have been a token effort and not a genuine attempt to impact the process and put substantial pressure on the parties to come up with a workable solution to the present crisis in Zimbabwe.

The South African Government’s apparent unwillingness to positively engage this situation and the manner in which they have so easily shifted the blame on to the MDC is distressing. The MDC, as the President is aware had a limited period in which to challenge the election outcome in the courts and were not at liberty to delay this action. To brush the issue aside and lay the blame at the door of the MDC is possibly convenient but dangerously short-sighted.

The ACDP calls on the President to be the leader, the people of Africa are looking to him to be and make sincere efforts to bring the two parties together with a view to reaching agreement on an acceptable way forward, where presidential elections under responsible supervision and on a reasonable playing field, can be held as soon as possible.

Sincerely

Cheryllyn Dudley MP
African Christian Democratic Party