DA welcomes signing of memorandum of understanding between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare yesterday, and congratulates President Mbeki for co-ordinating this effort.
This is the first sign of progress in Zimbabwe in eight years of unrelenting political, economic and humanitarian turmoil, and represents hope for that country's future. While this is an important and welcome development, it is however crucial that we do not lose track of the fact that this alone does not automatically put Zimbabwe on the road to recovery.
The signing of this agreement should furthermore not be seen to excuse or condone the fact that Robert Mugabe's regime has stolen 4 elections in the last eight years; that it has enforced the systematic and violent repression of its own people, leading to the displacement of at least 200 000 Zimbabweans; and that it has destroyed the Zimbabwean economy, which is currently is teetering on the brink of total collapse on the back of inflation which is running at an unfathomable rate of 2.2 million percent.
As bitter experience has shown, a commitment from Robert Mugabe to take steps to resolve the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe must be treated very carefully; he has a history of breaking agreements and undertakings, and has in the past shown complete disdain for democratic norms and procedures.
For the sake of the people of Zimbabwe and the region as a whole, we can only hope that yesterday's historic moment will translate into genuine change in Zimbabwe, and that ultimately the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe will be respected and upheld.
We should be under no illusions about just how difficult this process will be, or about the level of vigilance that will be required in order to ensure that Mugabe does not once again frustrate the hope - however small - that this process will lead to real change for the better for our northern neighbour.
Statement issued by Tony Leon, Democratic Alliance spokesperson for foreign affairs, July 22 2008
