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Mbeki defends his stance on Zimbabwe
Chris McGreal, The Guardian (UK)
August 23, 2007

http://www.guardian.co.uk/southafrica/story/0,,2155020,00.html

The South African president, Thabo Mbeki, chided critics of his handling of the political upheaval in Zimbabwe today, saying his efforts to mediate between the government and opposition were "on track" and would deliver a resolution to the crisis.

A meeting of Mr Mbeki's cabinet rejected reports in the South African press that the talks were failing after Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF failed to turn up for the first round and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said there was no progress at subsequent negotiations.

The cabinet said in a statement that Mr Mbeki had reported to a summit of regional leaders that he was confident of brokering a deal.

"Contrary to misleading and sensationalist media reports, the report indicated that the facilitated talks between the government of Zimbabwe and the opposition were on track and was confident these talks will deliver an agreement that will lay the foundation for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe," the statement said.

The cabinet also denied that Mr Mbeki blamed Britain for Zimbabwe's economic woes. According to a document circulating among diplomats ahead the summit that purported to be a draft of Mr Mbeki's position at the meeting, and which was reported on in the Guardian, the South African leader joined Mr Mugabe in accusing the UK of leading a campaign of western sanctions to bring Zimbabwe's economy to its knees.

Mr Mbeki's office says it knows nothing about the document. "Government once again categorically rejects the allegation that President Mbeki had blamed the British government for the problems in Zimbabwe. This is simply not true," the statement said.

The South African government has previously sided with Mr Mugabe when he blamed Zimbabwe's economic woes on western sanctions, although the measures taken by Europe and the US are limited to travel bans on senior ruling party officials and other steps that have no economic repercussions.

A regional summit in March effectively accepted Mr Mugabe's view and called for "the lifting of all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe."

At the end of their summit last week, the region's leaders said that Zimbabwe's crisis was "exaggerated", but new economic indicators suggest otherwise. Official inflation rose to 7,634% in July, the highest in the world. Consumer groups say that real inflation is probably twice that or even higher.

The state Central Statistical Office said that a government order to shops to cut prices by at least half in late June brought month-on-month inflation down from 86% in June to 31% in July. But it also left most supermarket shelves bare and most of basics, such as cooking oil, sugar and tea, are now generally available on the black market at several times the official price.

Earlier this week the government bowed to reality and permitted shop owners and producers to raise the price of some basic goods by 20%, but retailers say they do not believe it will do much to ease the crisis.

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