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PM clarifies AU stance on Zimbabwe
2008-07-18 10:38:10
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz, Dodoma
The decision by China and Russia to veto proposed sanctions backed by Western countries on Zimbabwe has not swayed the African Union (AU) in its position on Zimbabwe, Parliament heard yesterday.
Responding to questions in the National Assembly during the law-makers’ direct questions session with the Prime Minister, Premier Mizengo Pinda said right from the beginning, the AU’s stand on the matter had been giving Harare a hand so that it could move out of the current political turmoil.
Iramba legislator Juma Killimbah had queried why the AU and other regional clubs, like the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which earlier did not recognize the presidency of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe were still working with him through dialogue.
Killimbah had also wanted to know the position of Tanzania and other countries in the region regarding the decision of China and Russia, which jointly vetoed a proposal that was backed by the West in the UN Security Council last week, which intended to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.
``The AU position has been clear from the beginning…there must be dialogue, we must facilitate constructive talks between the president and the opposition, so that a peaceful agreement on an agreed power-sharing government can be reached,`` said Pinda.
He said the decision by China and Russia to vote against proposed sanctions on Zimbabwe was made for a good reason because experience showed that economic and weapons embargo on a poor country like Zimbwabwe normally affected the people, not the government.
``They did so for a noble reason, and that is to rescue the people of Zimbabwe from further sufferings. I think making the rival parties conduct dialogue is the best solution,`` said the Premier.
On why the Tanzanian government and other AU member states were involving Mugabe, whom they apparently refused to recognize, in looking for a solution to the political crisis in Zimbabwe, Pinda said due to the fact that he was declared winner and took oath as president, there was no other option but working with him.
``I think the MP has just decided to corner me on the issue of Zimbabwe, because I have already explained about it eloquently,`` said the Premier, before responding straight away:
``The Zimbabwe issue is over. Elections have been held and the President has been installed. What we can do right now is help Mugabe, the opposition and Zimbabweans to workout problems, so that the country goes back to its previous position. What is important now is pushing the dialogue ahead.``
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