SOUTH AFRICA JOINS UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSENSUS STATEMENT ON ZIMBABWE

Pretoria- South Africa on Monday 23 June 2008 joined consensus with other members of the United Nations Security Council in the adoption of a Presidential Statement on Zimbabwe [see here]. The UN Security Council welcomed international efforts including the SADC-facilitation process led by President Thabo Mbeki to help the people of Zimbabwe to find a "peaceful way forward, through dialogue between the parties" to find a lasting solution to their current political challenges. In this regard, we reiterate the hope expressed by President Mbeki that the Zimbabwean leadership "would still be open to a process that would result in them coming to some agreement about what happens to their country".

Accordingly, South Africa will indeed continue to encourage the political leadership of Zimbabwe to urgently interact among themselves to find a lasting solution to the current impasse. South Africa joins other members of the Security Council, in expressing regret at the continuing violence and intimidation that has led to the loss of life and destruction of property in the run-up to the June 27 elections.

South Africa reiterates its conviction that the resolution of the current political challenges facing Zimbabwe lies with the people of Zimbabwe, acting with the support of the international community. In this regard, South Africa will do everything in its power and within the framework of the SADC facilitation process to assist the people of Zimbabwe to find a lasting solution to their current political challenges.

Statement issued by Ronnie Mamoepa, Department of Foreign Affairs, Pretoria June 24 2008