IFP MEDIA STATEMENT RELEASE BY:
Mr Ben Skosana
IFP Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs

16th July 2007

Machiavelli, the Italian political philosopher, would have said about the political and economic situation currently unfolding in Zimbabwe, that the political system in Zimbabwe has reached a state of decay and possible ruin.

Something urgent must be done to halt this process and lay down the firm foundation for the post-Robert Mugabe era. Whether the problems of Zimbabwe emanate from internal or external hostile forces and environment cannot be material at this point.

Zimbabwe must be prevented from becoming a failing state, which would affect the entire region adversely.

The IFP applauded the South African Development Community's (SADC) decision to appoint President Mbeki as the mediator to the Zimbabwean crisis, but recent events show that South Africa should not have been left alone, but that there should have been a joint SADC strategic intervention, involving all members of SADC.

Again, the bilateral negotiations currently planned between ZANU-PF and the MDC, encouraged and presided over by South Africa, are fundamental initial steps. But their success lies with the inclusive participation of all the vital role players in Zimbabwe; which includes: civil society organisations, churches, business communities, non-government organisations, lawyers and human rights organisations and the youth and women formations.

A document titled: 'The Zimbabwe We Want' recently released by the Ecumenical (churches) Movement in Zimbabwe present a framework within which an inter-Zimbabwean dialogue should be fostered.

The IFP supports Business Unity South Africa's (BUSA) call that South African businesses should not hastily pull out of Zimbabwe, but should stay in search of social and economic solutions acceptable to all the people of Zimbabwe.



FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mr Ben Skosana MP: 082 887 2779
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470