style of diplomatic intervention shifted significantly from Mbeki’s ‘quiet diplomacy’, which the
Zuma team had largely adopted on taking over the reins of the facilitation. At this point it might
be argued that the reasons for the change in SADC’s approach were the result of a combination
of factors. These included: increased international pressure in the wake of events in North
Africa; the growing frustration of SADC with the obstructive behavior of the Mugabe regime; and
the persistent pressure of the lobbying of the MDCs and civil society in both Zimbabwe and
South Africa. It remains to be seen whether SADC has the united political will to follow this
through.
The response to the SADC resolutions by the Mugabe regime was, to say the least, apoplectic. On
April 1st Mugabe complained at a Zanu PF Politburo meeting:
The facilitator is the facilitator and must facilitate dialogue. (Zuma) cannot prescribe
anything. We prescribe what we should do in accordance with our own laws and our
agreement.39
Following this a series of vitriolic anti‐Zuma and anti SADC rants followed in the Zanu PF’s media
mouthpieces. Nathaniel Manheru, thought to be presidential spokesman George Charamba
complained that while ‘Zanu (PF) has all along depended on SADC support in its fight against
imperialism, it should remember that in the final analysis, it may have to confront imperialism
alone. This urges for a non‐but‐ourselves approach,’40 The Sunday Mail editorial went further
and carried out a personal attack on South African President Zuma. It attacked Zuma’s bungled
personal life and ‘astounding’ duplicity.41 However the most extended diatribe came from chief
Zanu PF propagandist Jonathan Moyo:
With all due respect, and please take note there is a lot of it, the mere fact that President
Zuma of South Africa voted for the atrocities that the US and its NATO allies are
committing in Libya under UN Resolution 1973 makes him an undesirable SADC facilitator
on the political and security situation in Zimbabwe. Zuma can no longer be trusted if he
ever was….
Zimbabwe cannot be expected to accept an intrusive SADC team of so‐called officials
funded by regime change donors to come and work in our country to plot the so‐called
electoral roadmap with a view to ensuring that the forthcoming general election is
39
Sibusiso Ngalwa, Zoli Mangena, and Sunday Times coorespondent, ‘Zuma, Mugabe at war.’ Sunday Times, 3rd April
2011.
40
Nathaniel Manheru, ‘Zanu PF: Keeping the eye off the ball.’
www.herald.co.zw/index.php?view=article&catid=48%3Ablogs&id=6509%3Ama.. Accessed on 04/0 4/2011.
41
Editorial, Sunday Mail,’Has SADC been hijacked?’
www.zimpapers.co.zw/index.php?view=article&catid=39%3Aopinion&id=2597%.. Accessed on 04/04/2011.
19
Select target paragraph3
Add to table of contents