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South Africa lays Zimbabwe crisis at MDC door

brian | 23.03.2007 23:20

"Based on the view of the MDC, we then had a situation in Zimbabwe where there was serious conflict arising out of the premise taken by the MDC that the elections were not free and fair."
It, however, was the position of the South African government that the recent elections had been free and fair, he noted.

South Africa lays Zimbabwe crisis at MDC door

By Donwald Pressly
Last updated: 03/23/2007 04:53:36
THE serious conflict in Zimbabwe has arisen because of the perception by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that recent elections in Zimbabwe were not free and fair, said a South African government spokesperson, Themba Maseko.

"I think it is now public record that there were elections in Zimbabwe... at the end of those elections, the MDC were of the view that those elections were not free and fair," Maseko told reporters Tuesday.

"Based on the view of the MDC, we then had a situation in Zimbabwe where there was serious conflict arising out of the premise taken by the MDC that the elections were not free and fair."

It, however, was the position of the South African government that the recent elections had been free and fair, he noted.

The answer was in reply to a question from a journalist - at a media briefing after Tuesday's cabinet meeting in Cape Town - as to what the government's analysis of the key problem was in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

 http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/sadc9.16165.html

brian

Comments

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24.03.2007 00:29

funny how people love to refer to the bbc in retaliation to anything that goes against the white liberal view of Zimbabwe in this country.
unbiased coverage from the bbc...

observation


In some ways, you're right

24.03.2007 14:15

The BBC is not the best source of news from Zimbabwe, since it's banned from the country. Oddly, having a free press is supposed to be one of the hallmarks of democracy.

Now, if you read the item, then you would find it quoting people [even 'white liberal' sources have to get their quotes right]:

"... the chairman of the African Union, Ghanaian President John Kufuor, assured an audience in London that the AU was trying hard to resolve the crisis.
"I want to tell you straight away that I know that the AU is very uncomfortable. The situation in [Zimbabwe] is very embarrassing," Mr Kufuor said."

If the chairman of the AU says 'embarrassing', this is code for 'bloody awful'.

Now, the original post said that SA was laying the blame on the opposition. Well, here's the deputy Foreign Secretary:

"Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad called on Harare to respect the rule of law and the rights of all political parties.
But it now emerges that South African President Thabo Mbeki began taking a tougher line over Zimbabwe even before Sunday's beatings."

So slag off the Beeb if you like, but tell me: what did they get wrong in their report?

wananchee


BBC is an arm of the state

27.03.2007 07:19


'The BBC is not the best source of news from Zimbabwe, since it's banned from the country. Oddly, having a free press is supposed to be one of the hallmarks of democracy. '

Thats ironic, as another hallmark of democracy is abiding by the law! Yet britain has taken part in an illegel war(Iraq), and seeks to overthrow a soveriegn state (Zimbabwe)

You do need to learn more about the media and the state!.

Also, democracy is rule by the people.... moder 'democracies' dont permit this...they use 'representatives, isolating people from the levers of power, and the decisions that affect their lives.

brian


But, Brian - did they get their facts wrong?

27.03.2007 08:57

Because what they are saying is the direct opposite of what you are saying.

wananchee