SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON ZIMBABWE

South Africa welcomes the decision on Friday 11 July 2008 of the United Nations Security Council not to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe including a travel ban and asset freeze on President Mugabe and other individuals.

We do so, in accordance with the Sharm-El Sheikh African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government decision to "encourage President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the MDC to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people".

As things stand today, talks between Zanu-PF, the MDC of Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC of Arthur Mutambara and facilitated by the South African Government on behalf of SADC began in South Africa on Thursday 10 July.

In this regard, the AU Summit had appealed to states and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that could negatively impact on the climate for dialogue. It is our considered view that imposing sanctions would indeed have impacted negatively on the current dialogue process among Zimbabwean political parties. In addition, both SADC and the AU have not called for sanctions.

Accordingly, the role of the international community at this juncture should be to encourage the Zimbabwean political parties to deepen and consolidate the current dialogue process, as facilitated by SADC, with a view to the creation of peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation.

South Africa is indeed encouraged by the commitment to dialogue by the Zimbabwean political parties and expresses the hope this will help the people of Zimbabwe in their endeavour to find a comprehensive solution to their current political challenges and all its manifestations.

Statement issued by Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ronnie Mamoepa, July 12 2008