Pahad+calls+on+Zim+to+respect+rule+of+law,+The+Citizen

The Citizen, Johannesburg, Wednesday March 14
=Pahad calls on Zim to respect rule of law=

JOHANNESBURG – Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad urged the Zimbabwe government on Tuesday to adhere to the rule of law, including “respect for the rights of all Zimbabweans and leaders of various political parties”.

“South Africa expresses its concerns about reports of arrests, detention and assault of political opposition leaders as well as the deteriorating political and economic situation in Zimbabwe.

“We are of the view that the current difficulties are symptomatic of the broader political and economic challenges facing Zimbabwe” said Pahad.

“Accordingly, South Africa has consistently maintained and moved from the premise that only dialogue among the main political protagonists can help bring about a lasting solution to the current political and economic challenges facing Zimbabwe.”

Pahad’s statement follows Zimbabweean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s appearance in court in Harare. He reportedly showed clear signs of injury.

Tsvangirai and more than 40 activists were arrested at the weekend for attending a prayer rally.

Pahad said South Africa would continue to monitor the situation closely and work with all parties in Zimbabwe in the political, economic, trade and social sectors to ensure the objective of dialogue among all political parties was realised.

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said South Africa believed Zimbabwe’s problems should be solved by the people of that country.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said Mamoepa’s comments were “shamefully weak”.

“Such a response is disgraceful, in the face of such massive attacks on democracy and human rights, especially coming from those who owed so much to international solidarity when South Africans were fighting for democracy and human rights against the apartheid regime,” spokesman Patrick Craven was quoted as saying. – //Sapa//


 * From: http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=34130,1,22**

294 words