Zimbabwe+needs+what+South+Africa+needs,+DT

To: Letters Editor, Sol Makgabutlane, The Star, P O Box 61682, Marshalltown 2017.

From: Dominic Tweedie, 36 Byron Road, Lombardy East, 2090

Dear Editor,

Zimbabwe needs what South Africa needs, namely peace and the rule of law under democracy plus steady development.

DA Deputy Spokesperson Motlatjo Thetjeng, MP (The Star Letters, August 22) wrote that I am a "functionary" (actually a voluntary office-bearer at branch level) in the SACP. This is true, but it should not prevent us from agreeing about Zimbabwe.

All South Africans can and should unite on this question, including the DA and the SACP.

The problem with the DA is their fixation with "opposition". They continue to try to use the Zimbabwe issue as a stick to beat the South African government with.

To do so, and in the absence of any fundamental disagreement, they must create an artificial and dangerous divide between themselves and the government (as well as those allied to the government, like the SACP) on Zimbabwe.

Mr Thetjeng does this in his letter when he writes: "Once again the South African government preferred to temporise with tyranny rather than listen to the voice of reason."

His implication is that talks between our countries should cease and that force should be applied by South Africa against Zimbabwe, or in other words that war is the preferred DA solution.

If he did not mean this, then I would be happy if he would kindly say so. I would be happy if Mr Thetjeng or any other DA spokesperson would deny that their counsel is for war against Zimbabwe.

In that case we would all have a basis for common cause over Zimbabwe.

Peace must be the first and the last consideration. So long as we agree about that we can stand confidently together as South Africans advocating the rule of law under democracy and a steady path of material development - in Zimbabwe and in all African countries.

Yours,

Dominic Tweedie