wfn.org | [ACNS] Archbishop Ndungane Statement On Zimbabwe

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ACNS 4021     |     SOUTH AFRICA      |     10 AUGUST 2005

Statement from Archbishop Ndungane On A Meeting Between President Mbeki
and Religious Leaders on Zimbabwe

This Statement was given at a media conference at Bishopscourt this
morning.

Yesterday evening I and other religious leaders met with President Mbeki
on the issue of Zimbabwe.

Also present at the meeting were Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka, Finance
Minister Trevor Manuel and Minister of Land Affairs Thoko Didiza. The
religious leaders included the President of the South African Council of
Churches, Professor Russel Bothman; the Vice President of the SACC;
General Secretary of the SACC, Dr Molefe Tsele; Cardinal Napier of the
Catholic Church; Dr Coenie Burger, Moderator of the NGK; Presiding
Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ivan Abrahams; Bishop Paswana of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church and Pastor Ntlha of the Evangelical
Alliance.

This meeting followed our initial meeting with the President a few weeks
ago where we reported back on our July fact-finding visit to Zimbabwe
and discussed what we, as the religious community could do to help the
situation. The President then promised to meet with us once he had read
and digested the UN report.

Subsequent to that meeting we started an assistance fund for the victims
of Operation Murambatsvina and collected some food and blankets to send
to Zimbabwe, to be distributed by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches. You
will also be aware by now that the trucks carrying 37 tons of food and a
few thousand blankets have not been able to leave South Africa yet. This
is due to the Zimbabweans insisting on certificates from the suppliers
of the food as well as from the Ministry of Agriculture to certify that
the food is not genetically modified. We know that many countries Africa
are quite sensitive about GMO foods and want to ensure that developed
world countries do not offload these foods on our doorstep.

On receiving the UN report, President Mbeki mentioned again that he
would be meeting with Southern African religious leaders and that is why
we were all in Pretoria yesterday.

I think that the fact that the Deputy President, Minister of Finance and
Minister of Land Affairs were all present at this meeting is an
indication of how seriously the present situation in Zimbabwe is viewed
by our government. 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.

Zimbabwe is in a very precarious situation. The crisis seems to be in
three major areas:

Firstly, the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Operation Murambatsvina
and we, as churches, are doing our best to respond to that. Apart from
the Operation there has been the question of a food shortage for some
time. We have been given the assurance that the Department of
Agriculture will be issuing a certificate (that the foods we are sending
have not been genetically modified) this morning. So we hope that our
trucks will be on their way soon.

The second area of major concern is that Zimbabwe is in danger of
forfeiting its membership of the IMF. It owes the IMF and other
institutions a lot of money, which it is apparently unable to pay at
this stage. The consequences of Zimbabwe's expulsion from the IMF are
very serious and will lead to a far worse situation in Zimbabwe.

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.

Thirdly, and most importantly, it is felt that Zimbabweans from
government, from opposition parties, from civil society and business
must come together and be informed of the true facts of the crisis so
that they can all begin to address that crisis together. Once that is
done they can call on South Africa and other countries for the help they
need.

On the visit that I and other religious leaders made to Zimbabwe in
2003, we met with President Mugabe, the opposition and civil society
leaders and they all agreed that coming together was the only solution
for their country.

Concern has been expressed by South Africans about the conditions of a
possible loan by South Africa to Zimbabwe. Those present at our meeting
yesterday were given assurances that this government has a good record
of fiscal discipline and are not going to enter into any loan agreement
in an irresponsible way and that all proper processes will be followed -
including engaging with parliament. We believe those assurances and hope
that they help to allay any fears on that score.

We South Africans 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 what is best for their country. Along with help in supplying
short-term humanitarian aid, that is our appeal.

ENDS

For further information please phone Penny Lorimer, Media Liaison for
Archbishop Ndungane
on +27 82 894-1522

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