JOHANNESBURG - South African President Thabo Mbeki has said that there is no need for United Nations observers to monitor the presidential run-off in Zimbabwe. In an interview with Al Jazeera on May 8 2008 (see here) he said that the observer missions from Africa and elsewhere - which had observed the first round of voting on the invitation of the Zimbabwean government - were perfectly capable of performing this function. He said he didn't like the proposal as it suggested that "as Africans we cannot do this job."

Mbeki was asked by the interviewer whether he thought it would be helpful if UN monitors were allowed in to monitor the run-off - and would calm the situation and instil trust in the process. In his reply Mbeki told the interviewer that:

"I don't like that idea that it is suggested that as Africans we cannot do this job. And therefore there must be some other people elsewhere, because we are unreliable. On what basis is that said? I think ... you know people must really... I think all of must begin to respect the African people. The Zimbabwe government invited observers from Asia, from Latin America, from Africa, the Caribbean, the Russians ... So, I don't know why it would be suggested that those observers are incompetent or dishonest or something."

Elsewhere in the interview Mbeki argued against foreign pressure or intervention He stated: "We shouldn't shift the task of defining what Zimbabwe should look like to foreigners." He also said that the people in Zimbabwe should be given "enough space to solve their own problems." Asked if he thought that the rhetoric currently emanating from London and Washington was unhelpful, Mbeki replied: "It would help if all us sang one song, and that one song was: ‘Let's give maximum space to the people of Zimbabwe to solve their problems.' I think that would help."

Mbeki's full reply to the question on UN observers:

Interviewer: Would it be helpful if UN monitors were allowed in to monitor the upcoming presidential run-off in Zimbabwe? Do you think that would help calm the situation, instil trust in the process?

Mbeki: "Well, you know that I am an African. The African Union sent observers for these elections, as did the Southern African Development Community. As did other Africans. And I am quite certain that as Africans we are perfectly capable of monitoring properly, assessing properly. And indeed I am sure you have seen the reports that have been issued. The Pan African Parliament and so on have made some critical remarks about certain elements of those elections. I don't like that idea that it is suggested that as Africans we cannot do this job. And therefore there must be some other people elsewhere, because we are unreliable. On what basis is that said? I think ... you know people must really... I think all of must begin to respect the African people. The Zimbabwe government invited observers from Asia, from Latin America, from Africa, the Caribbean, the Russians ... So, I don't know why it would be suggested that those observers are incompetent or dishonest or something. So the idea that we will not be able as Africans - never mind others, people from Asia, people from Latin America, all of those people - can't do a proper job unless somebody else, as you mentioned the United Nations.

The United Nations observers, as I understood from the SG of the UN - observers are sent by virtue of resolutions taken by the general assembly. So anyone who suggests that there should be UN observers, in terms of what the Secretary General told me, they would have to make a presentation to the General Assembly. And as far as I know nobody has. So then the matter would have to be decided by the General Assembly as to whether they think there is such a need, or there isn't.

I would imagine that the GA would say, ‘but that our countries as African countries, our countries as LA, our countries as Asians, our countries as the ME, we were all invited. I think all of those people have the necessary competence to do this job. But so surely if anybody believes there need to be UN observers they have the freedom to present the matter to the General Assembly."