DA: Zuma should take stand against Zimbabwean Govt

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe should not be allowed to continue to flout the basic legal principles of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.

The South African government and SADC should apply pressure on Mugabe, rather than standing idly by, DA spokesman Wilmot James said.

Mugabe had “shown SADC the finger, again”, he said.

Mugabe did not even bother to send a respondent to the hearing of the SADC Tribunal held on Friday, which found the government of Zimbabwe — for the third time — to be in contempt of the Tribunal’s ruling to make all possible efforts to return land seized illegally from South African farm owners in Zimbabwe under the pretence of land reform by Mugabe’s administration.

The SADC Tribunal was a highly respected body composed of three highly respected Judges — AG Pillay, IJ Mtambo SC, and Dr LA Mondlane.

Honouring the Tribunal’s rulings was a fundamental point of democratic adherence to the rule of law, honouring the independence of the judiciary, and the legitimacy of SADC.

“Zimbabwe stands in brazen contempt of SADC of which it is a member state,” James said.

The DA last year called on Zuma to enforce the Tribunal’s ruling on the Zimbabwean government while he was head of the SADC, but he accomplished nothing.

Zimbabwe’s refusal — for the third time — to adhere to SADC’s Tribunal was a confirmation, if any was needed, that “Mugabe is a rogue who will do anything to stay in power”.

“He outwits those who have the means to compel him to abide by democratic rules of governance, like South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma,” James said.