Nam urged to break ties with MugabeTuesday, June 24, 2008
CHRISTOF MALETSKY
The NamibianPRESSURE is mounting on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to sever diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe following the deepening political crisis in that country.
Yesterday, Namibian political parties and NGO organisations joined international condemnation of President Robert Mugabe government, calling the leader's regime "illegitimate".
Norman Tjombe, Director of the Legal Assistance Centre, said the violence in Zimbabwe had now escalated to the extent that SADC countries, particularly Namibia considering its close ties with that government, could no longer remain silent.
He said Mugabe had just about violated any and all basic standards of a government.
"The Zimbabwean government is now an illegitimate government, and the Namibian Government, not to taint its commitment to human rights and democracy, should sever diplomatic ties with the Zimbabwean government until such time that the violence has ended and the normality has returned," Tjombe said.
"We must disassociate our country from criminal dictators and cast our vote against the Swapo Party in the next general elections," the Rally for Democracy and Progress said in a statement yesterday.
The RDP said the political and security situation in Zimbabwe was "a tinderbox waiting to explode at any moment" unless SADC countries, Africa and the rest of the world took urgent and drastic action to avert a bloodbath.
"Those of us who have so far remained silent and passive onlookers, while our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe are murdered, maimed and forced to flee their country, shall not escape the harsh judgement of history.
The Namibian Government is such a by-stander," the RDP said.The Congress of Democrats said only a direct and clear call from Pohamba, acting in concert with the other members of the SADC political leadership, can save the Zimbabwean situation now.
"We therefore call upon President Pohamba to act decisively and quickly to prevent Zimbabwe from sliding any further into anarchy, lawlessness and perhaps even civil war," its leader Ben Ulenga said.
According to the RDP, Namibia's silence on the situation in Zimbabwe was tantamount to supporting Mugabe, "the former president of Zimbabwe and his Zanu PF bloody thugs".
Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said yesterday that any run-off or announcement of a winner under the violence and intimidation prevailing in that country would be neither credible nor acceptable to Zimbabweans, Africa and the international community.
"The victor emerging from such a flawed process will have no legitimacy to govern Zimbabwe.
Besides, such a process would lead to more violence and unnecessary loss of life," Annan warned.
He said the crisis called for concerted and more effective action by SADC, the African Union, and the international community.
"Zimbabwe cannot do it alone. As I said a week ago, we all have a responsibility to assist in finding a solution. The need is even greater now," he said.
Annan called for the appointment of a mediation team to ensure effective transition and governance arrangements that will result in stability, peace and national reconciliation.
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