South African government must urgently adopt principled stand on Zimbabwe

President Jacob Zuma used the first day of his much publicised state visit to the United Kingdom to reaffirm his administration's tacit support of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe. Speaking in London, Zuma stated that the South African government will not involve itself with Mugabe's proposed "indigenisation" of foreign firms, which aims to handover majority shares in foreign businesses to Zimbabwe nationals.

What the ANC government in general and President Zuma in particular seem incapable of understanding is that South Africa's attitude toward Zimbabwe is not solely about its ability to influence what happens in that country but, significantly, also about our own values and principles as a democracy. There is no end to the number of problematic policies adopted and enforced by Robert Mugabe; the duty our government has failed to fulfil is to present to Robert Mugabe and the world a coherent and principled stand against the destruction of that economy and the damage done to the basic rights of Zimbabweans, whether it be human rights abuses or the creation of widespread poverty.

It is that principled stand which the ANC government refuses to take. It can try and deflect attention by focusing on technicalities, but until it addresses its fundamental failure to put principle ahead of party political solidarity, this government's attitude to Zimbabwe will always be corrupted. Jacob Zuma can wax lyrical about how no one has the right to judge anyone else, but when it comes to human rights, the standard is internationally benchmarked and all progressive democracies have adopted a position towards Zimbabwe that South Africa has been unwilling to follow.

The South African government must rethink its fundamental approach to Zimbabwe as a matter of urgency. It is imperative that President Zuma adopts a more considered stance and focuses on how South African national policy can best be utilised to impact that country's dire political situation.

President Zuma's government can enforce this more decisive new position through key domestic policy areas such as:

·          Human Rights Abuses: President Zuma needs to strongly oppose any acts of violence towards innocent civilians, such as the recent reports of brutality on the Marange diamond fields

·         Sanctions: The South African government must recommit itself to the targeted sanctions currently imposed on Mugabe and his cronies until meaningful steps are taken by the Zimbabwean leadership to met the guidelines laid out by the Global Political Agreement

·         Road Map: The DA has set out in some detail a road map to democracy, the government would do well to consider some of the fundamental changes it proposes.

Given its close ties with Zimbabwe, the global community is looking to South Africa to play a critical role in resolving the Zimbabwean political crisis. In adopting an Mbeki-like silence towards the dangers of Mugabe's policies, President Zuma places at risk not only Zimbabweans, but also South Africans, like those affected by last week's SADC tribunal hearing. The final judgment, made by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, granted the civil rights union AfriForum an order to register and implement a November 2008 SADC tribunal ruling. The ruling will protect South African farmers in Zimbabwe from persecution under Mugabe's infamous land reform programme and ensure that those already affected are entitled to compensation.

No more time can be wasted on appeasement and indecision. The DA calls on President Zuma to take urgent and decisive action with regards to Zimbabwe, to consider the recommendations put forward in the DA's Roadmap to Democracy in Zimbabwe and to effectively use national policy to drive this new approach.

The DA encourages the President to lead by example in adopting a principled and accountable approach to governance- applicable both within and beyond South Africa's borders. 

Statement issued Athol Trollip, MP, Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader, March 3 2010

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