Mugabe Shakes His Fist, South Africa Intervenes
Carter and his trio refused access to Zimbabwe
Former US President Jimmy Carter and three others were refused entry visas to Zimbabwe to assess the "humanitarian conditions." BBC reports Carter, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and Nelson Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, traveling on behalf of their organization, The Elders, were shocked by the terrible conditions, indicating, "The country's basic structure was "broken down", he said, with provision of food, healthcare and education all serious problems." A major outbreak of cholera is reported to be running unchecked because of lack of drugs treatments or access to medical facilities. --BBC News South African government intervenes
Political heavyweights in Africa are weighing in, some in a heavy-handed way, in reaction to such a massive human crisis. Jacob Zuma, leader of the African National Congress, stated, ""Let us find a way to implement the agreement for the sake of Zimbabweans," Mr Zuma said. "We cannot stay with the agreement without implementing it. It is now an urgent matter, people are dying," and has indicated the ANC will send a delegation to Zimbabwe to help facilitate a political solution.--AP
The South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, recently assumed office, is hosting a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 25th to facilitate a power sharing agreement between Zimbabwe's rival governments, whose clash is overshadowing all other national concerns. BBC reports:
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) are in a power-sharing stand-off following disputed presidential elections earlier this year.They have agreed to form a government of national unity but been unable to agree on who should fill key ministries. --BBC
Mugabe and Annan crossfire
Zimbabwe's President Mugabe has accused Carter, Annan, and Mechel of "illegal regime change," and the trio of Elders, "a clique... of personalities hostile to Zimbabwe, a partisan mission by a group of people with partisan interests." Mr. Annan issued a counterstatement today saying his group's only intent would be to, "make a first-hand assessment of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, to meet those working on the ground, to better assess the extent of the crisis and how assistance can be improved," and that they have "no interest" in the power struggle between Mr Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, calling it a "stalemate." --Times Online
Photo courtesy of AFP
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