Mr Mantashe, the ANC’s inaction is the Third Force allowing for human rights abuses in Zimbabwe

13 July 2016

ANC Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe, blaming the civil unrest in neighbouring Zimbabwe on a third force yesterday, shows the governing party’s utter disregard for former President Nelson Mandela’s human rights-based foreign policy. This is a betrayal of the legacy of Madiba and an insult to every South African back home who has had their own rights violated in the past. 

The silence from our government must end. The DA demands that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, make a public statement on the ensuing violence carried out by the Zimbabwean government on protesting civilians. 

That the Minister and President Zuma have said nothing to condemn this acts of the Zimbabwean government demonstrate that the South African government is complicit in this state-sanctioned use of force and will have no compunction in doing the same here at home.

If the Minister’s condemnation is not forthcoming; the DA will ensure that Parliament compels such a statement to be made pursuant to section 55(2) of the Constitution. Parliament has a duty to oversee the functioning of government departments and cannot exempt the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation. Parliament has been slated before for abdicating its responsibility in terms of this constitutional provision and must not allow this to happen again.

This comes after Zimbabwean Home Affairs Minister, Ignatius Chombo, told reporters yesterday that the police will be out “in full force” to deal with the planned national protest today. He also warned instigators behind the intended protest that they will “face the full wrath of the law.” This in the face of the arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire, who organised a nationwide strike on 6 July and has repeatedly called for non-violent protests. 

President Jacob Zuma, as a leader in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and Minister Nkoana-Mashabane can no longer be allowed to remain silent on the state of affairs in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government should be condemned and South Africa should be taking action to restore peace and calm among civilians in our neighbouring country. 

Zimbabwe, like many other African nations, helped South Africa in its fight for freedom and democracy. We have a duty to ensure that Zimbabwe finds legitimate freedom and democracy.

Issued by Stevens Mokgalapa, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, 13 July 2016