IFP Welcomes SADC Recommendations

MEDIA STATEMENT RELEASED BY:
MR BEN SKOSANA MP
IFP SPOKESPERSON FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

March 30, 2007

The Inkatha Freedom Party's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Mr Ben Skosana MP, today welcomed the Southern African Development Community's decision to appoint President Thabo Mbeki as mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis.

"The Inkatha Freedom Party welcomes SADC's decision to call on President Thabo Mbeki to lead efforts to promote discussions between rival political parties in Zimbabwe," said Mr Skosana.

"During Wednesday's debate in the National Assembly on the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, the IFP made the suggestion that we must devise a constructive plan for Zimbabweans to start talking to one another.

"Furthermore, we called for an honest broker, like President Thabo Mbeki, to make available his good offices to organise all relevant factions in Zimbabwe to start negotiating.

"We are therefore extremely pleased that the IFP's suggestions were echoed by the Southern African Development Community and we hope to see constructive talks between Zanu-PF and MDC, so that democracy in one of the most troubled countries on the African continent can be restored," concluded Mr Skosana.


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