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Mbeki is right on Zim, says De Klerk
By XOLANI MBANJWA
JOHANNESBURG – Former South African President FW de Klerk defended President Thabo Mbeki’s stance on Zimbabwe when he delivered a lecture on Africa at the University of Pretoria yesterday.
Answering questions, De Klerk said while Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe presided over a dwindling economy, “South Africa has taken the right stance on Zimbabwe.
“We cannot just send an army into Zimbabwe because we think Zimbabwe is undemocratic. The only way to solve any conflict is through negotiation and dialogue. We cannot be involved in a country without the wishes of that country.”
President Thabo Mbeki has come under increasing criticism from the media and opposition parties for his “quiet diplomacy” approach to Zimbabwe.
De Klerk praised Mbeki on his “tireless” efforts to promote peace in Africa, saying considerable progress had been made.
“The devastating wars in Angola and Mozambique have ended. Fragile peace has returned to the Congo and Southern Sudan.
“Nevertheless warfare, hostilities and tension persist in too many areas, most notably in Darfur. However, in all these areas the African Union – strongly supported by South Africa – continues to work tirelessly to find peaceful solutions.
De Klerk called for the former colonisers of Africa to help in every way to end conflicts, alleviate poverty, tyranny and relieve countries of their debt.
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