SADC Calls Zuma To Act On Zim’s Unrest

South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged President Jacob Zuma and his African National Congress (ANC) government to speak out on the unfolding civil unrest in Zimbabwe.

Democratic Alliance International Relations and Co-operation shadow minister, Stevens Mokgalapa reportedly said Zuma could not remain silent if South Africa was to play its part to mitigate the escalating unrest in Zimbabwe.

He also added that the quiet diplomacy of the past cannot be allowed to repeat itself and, as history has shown, has the potential to allow for human rights violations to persist and the situation in Zimbabwe appears to be the result of a shortage of resources  food and cash  as well as dissatisfaction with the administration of President Robert Mugabe.

”We call on Zuma  as a leader in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region and International Relations and Co-operation minister, Maite Nkoane-Mashabane to break their silence and condemn the atrocities currently being carried out in Zimbabwe,” he said

Mokgalapa said Zuma must give effect to South Africa’s human rights-based foreign policy to ensure that no more human rights abuses occur on the country’s watch.

The DA official allegedly said their government’s silence in this regard will make them complicit in the escalation of the use of force against civilians, the DA official warned. South Africa’s most recent track record on human rights on the international stage has left a lot to be desired and it is time for them to step up and restore their commitment to human rights.

”Furthermore, the situation in Zimbabwe should serve as a wake up call for the South African government that, without sound economic policies and a caring government, the people will suffer and their dissatisfaction will only be silenced for so long,” said the shadow minister.