Statement by President Kgalema Motlanthe on the support for former President Mbeki to continue as facilitator in Zimbabwe

Tshwane - President Kgalema Motlanthe has informed Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), that the government of South Africa supports former President Thabo Mbeki's continued role as the SADC-mandated facilitator in the Zimbabwean dialogue.

‘Mr Mbeki's facilitation efforts in Zimbabwe have proven his dispassionate vision for a lasting political solution to the challenges facing Zimbabwe,' said President Motlanthe.

Accordingly, our government has full confidence in Mr Mbeki's ability to build on the historic successes already made in the power sharing negotiations under his mediation.

Therefore, we will further fully support him as the facilitator.

Statement issued by the Presidency October 2 2008