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SA minister tells Mugabe to step downBY GOODMAN MAJOLA JOHANNESBURG The South African government has abandoned its policy of "quiet diplomacy" on Zimbabwe, describing President Mugabe's government as "intolerant" of people's and workers' universal rights. Addressing a tripartite alliance recently, comprising the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and its South African Communist Party (SACP) allies, the Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, deplored the gross violations of citizens' rights in Zimbabwe. Nqakula's call has defied president Thabo Mbeki's so-called "quiet diplomacy", a situation that has exposed double standards by the SA government on the Zimbabwean crisis. Nqakula, who is also the South African Communist Party's chairperson, blasted Mugabe for what he described as "undermining" the rights of the workers to celebrate workers day. Speaking at Jabulani Amphitheatre in Soweto recently he called upon President Robert Mugabe to step down, arguing that the Zanu (PF) government had denied workers the right to express their feelings during international workers day on May 1, 2007. "We are here today to celebrate workers day but Zimbabweans are not allowed by their government to celebrate this day. We cannot completely celebrate this day while our fellow brothers and sisters are being tortured in our neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe," said Nqakula. He added that South African workers should support their Zimbabwean counterparts in order to enjoy what he termed "true freedom". This follows repeated calls by the COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, for the crisis to be resolved as a matter of urgency before the rot spilled to other SADC regional member states. Speaking at the same ceremony, COSATU spokesperson Zenzile Zokwana also called on Mugabe to step down. "Zimbabweans are brutally beaten by the Mugabe regime almost everyday. An old baboon doesn't mix with young ones. We say to Mugabe the time has come to hang up his boots," Zokwana said. -CAJ News |
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