Archbishop of Cape Town meets with President of South Africa on Zimbabwe

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, met Tuesday night in Pretoria with President Mbeki of South Africa and other religious leaders to discuss the current crisis in Zimbabwe.

The meeting focused on the findings of the UN report on the humanitarian crisis facing the country in which thousands of people have made homeless as a result of ‘Operation Murambatsvina’, the slum demolition programme of Robert Mugabe’s Government.

Another area of concern was the food shortage that Zimbabwe has been facing for some time and the slow progress that has been made in shipping food convoys to the most needy.

In light of the UN Report on Zimbabwe, which strongly condemned Mugabe’s demolition programme, the Anglican Church in South Africa set up a relief fund last month to be used to provide food and other basic necessities to the dispossessed and hungry.

The 37 tons of food and other goods to be distributed by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches remain in South Africa, however, owing to a technicality imposed by the Zimbabwean Government. All food deliveries must be certified by the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the suppliers as being GM-free, a particularly sensitive issue in many African countries.

The meeting in Pretoria was also attended by the South African Deputy President, Minister of Finance and Minister of Land Affairs, an indication of how seriously the South African Government regards the situation in Zimbabwe.

Archbishop Ngundane urged sensitivity, however, saying, “It is very clear to all of us that this crisis needs clear heads and options for a solution rather than political posturing in either South Africa or in Zimbabwe at this stage.”

In addition to the food crisis, the delegates at the meeting identified two more areas of ‘major concern’, the first one being that Zimbabwe is in danger of forfeiting its membership of the IMF.

“The consequences of Zimbabwe’s expulsion from the IMF are very serious and will lead to a far worse situation in Zimbabwe,” said Archbishop Ndungane.

“I do not need to remind you that the consequences of a meltdown in Zimbabwe will actually be disastrous for the whole of Southern Africa.

“There is another side to the IMF coin and that is that if the IMF itself rescues Zimbabwe, the conditions it will impose on the country in order for it to restore itself may well result in its citizens being far worse off than they are now,” he said.

The other area of concern for the delegates at the meeting was a deficit among Zimbabweans of true facts. Archbishop Ndungane said that Zimbabweans from all sectors of society, including government, opposition parties, civil society and business must come together and be informed on the truth in order to work together in tackling the crisis.

He continued: “Once that is done they can call on South Africa and other countries for the help they need.”

Archbishop Ndungane made a final appeal for unity among South Africans in dealing with the crisis in Zimbabwe: “We South African need to lend our support to finding a solution in this quagmire. This is not the time to be arguing amongst ourselves about details. We must press for all stakeholders in Zimbabwe to come together and work out what is best for their country. Along with help in supplying short-term humanitarian aid, that is our appeal.”