via Mugabe, Mbeki meeting raises eyebrows | SW Radio Africa by Alex Bell on Thursday, April 17, 2014
A meeting between Robert Mugabe and former South African President Thabo Mbeki in Harare this week has raised eyebrows, with questions being asked about the purpose of his visit.
Mbeki reportedly met Mugabe on Wednesday in Harare. According to the state run Herald newspaper, the two leaders exchanged views on “various matters affecting the African continent.”
The former South African leader is known to be a long standing fan and friend of Mugabe’s, to the point that he crafted the flawed unity government arrangement that allowed Mugabe to stay in power after the 2008 elections.
That unity arrangement has been widely deemed a failure, with no meaningful reforms being achieved in Zimbabwe since.
Mbeki, who passed his mediation role on to his successor Jacob Zuma, meanwhile has been repeatedly criticised for taking too soft an approach to various political crises in Africa. Regardless of this, he has been called on by the African Union to mediate other conflicts, such as in South Sudan and the Ivory Coast.
Exiled Zimbabwean journalist Tanonoka Whande said on Thursday that it is insulting to Zimbabweans.
“It is unacceptable that Mbeki, the architect of the downfall in Zimbabwe, has now returned to the scene of the crime,” Whande told SW Radio Africa.
He said Mbeki’s failed role in mediating any meaningful solutions to African problems shows the failure of African policy.
“After he failed to do any successful mediation in Zimbabwe, the African Union appointed him to mediate elsewhere in Africa. What is it they look for in trying to solve problems? Is their mission to create problems for Africa?” Whande questioned.
He added: “It all has to do with rewarding failure. The good people in Africa are reviled, but the architects of the destruction of Africa are given standing ovations.”
COMMENTS
He came for his share of the loot.
And to take stock of his platinum shares
This is of great concern, Mbeki, apart from being a known drunk is as stated a friend and mentor of MUGABE. There is little doubt that he and his intelligence establishment engineered the original Welshman split in the MDC. This with the sole intention of weakening the MDC. He was the one who dreamed up the GPA debacle and managed to sell it to Tsvangirai. I have serious doubts that his visit will assist the democratic forces or the legitimate aspirations of Zimbabweans. It wont be long before the reason for the visit and its contents leak out. This must be watched carefully.
This gentleman single handedly ensured that Zimbabwe remain for Zimbos.
He is not the one voting for Zanu pf
He is not the one who grabbed farms
He is not the one who exiled himself from Zim in pretence of running away from Mugabe bt still come back to profit on a weak Zim dola.
He is not the one who created a monster ruler in the first place
He is not the one who thinks without whites Zim is doomed to suffer
He is not responsible for Mdc lack of strategists
He is not the one who told Tsvangison to sit and watch his country burn with the hope of seeing pple run to him for salvation
Zimbos must carry their cross !
He came to ruin our lives or tell Mugabe the names of corrupt ministers who asked for bribes from South African investors but those ministers will not be arrested, they will be redployed to other ministries.
Birds of a feather flock together. Mbeki is as far off the deep end as Mugabe. Both men are completely nuts.
He came to find out why the payments have stopped going into his bank account.Remember this is a man who has whiskey for breakfast.
And lets not forget that report by his military chiefs that he and Zuma are so desperate to keep under wraps!!!Maybe he’s brought up a consignment of whiskey for the coming black market…
He is the architect of Zim downfall. He carried the cross this man . He is trying to justify his existance. He is a shame
He came to Zimbabwe to get his share of African resources and patting each other for outwitting the MDCs
Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma are the two sides of the same coin.Have you seen their documentary during the talks with the apartheid regime officials? I was not really impressed with their skills thus why they act like semi-stooges.We should not expect them to assist us in bringing about true democracy in southern Africa.
The S Africans must thank those who negotiated for the robust constitution which has compelled these two not to tear it to introduce dictatorship there.
This could very well be a precursor to attempting to setting up GPA 2. Any right minded Zimbabwean must reject any such initiative with the utmost contempt. Mbeki masquerades as an African elder & negotiator but is rather a dishonest broker.