SOUTH AFRICAN president Jacob Zuma was subjected to withering criticism from Zimbabwe’s state-run media yesterday, just days after he briefed regional leaders on the political deadlock threatening the country’s coalition government.
In an editorial in the Sunday Mail, one of President Robert Mugabe's propaganda machines, Mr Zuma was described as a dishonest broker in relation to his stance on Libya who had become "a huge liability" to the African continent.
"President Jacob Zuma's erratic behaviour is the stuff of legends," the Mailsaid. "The problem with Mr Zuma now is that his disconcerting behaviour has become a huge liability, not only to South Africa but also to the rest of the continent." It added: "The same President Zuma who voted for the bombardment of Libya is now speaking out against the use of military force by the United States, Britain, France and their allies."
It appears Mr Zuma may have been subjected to the abuse because of the South African Development Community’s (SADC) strong criticism of those responsible for refusing to implement key elements of Zimbabwe’s powersharing deal following a recent security meeting.
Days before Mr Zuma attended last Friday’s meeting in Zambia he met with Mr Mugabe’s coalition partner, Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, at his home in South Africa for a progress update.
The SADC statement was clearly levelled at Mr Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party, who have refused to adhere to the details of regionally sponsored powersharing deal they signed up to following disputed presidential elections in 2008.
“The summit recalled past SADC decisions on the implementation of the and noted with disappointment insufficient progress thereof and expressed its impatience in the delay of the implementation of the GPA,” stated the summit’s final communique.
It added: “The summit noted with grave concern the polarisation of the political environment as characterised by, inter alia, resurgence of violence, arrest and intimidation in Zimbabwe.” Directly after the SADC meeting Mr Mugabe vowed to resist pressure from other African leaders to resolve tensions in the coalition government. “We will not brook any dictation from any source. We are a sovereign country,” he told state-run media.
Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF have been pushing for new elections, claiming that sharing power with their Movement for Democratic Change rivals was not working.