SA Deputy President sidesteps Mozambican turmoil

SA Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Thursday said SA is ‘not aware of any human rights violations’ by the governments of neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe. This despite Mozambique facing major post-election violence after claims of fraud in the 9 October legislative and presidential elections. The Daily Maverick reports that regional bodies like SADC and the AU have been urged to intervene in the post-election unrest in the country. ‘We, through our diplomatic engagements and as part of SADC, continue to engage with our sister countries on a variety of issues, including socioeconomic development and broader management,’ Mashatile told the National Assembly. ‘We know too well that lack of stability in the SADC region has an impact on the SA economy; hence, through our diplomatic channel, we are engaging with the people of Mozambique to find a lasting solution to the current situation as a result of the recent election.’ Mashatile said SA continued ‘to call for calm and utmost restraints while urging all political parties and their supporters to allow due process to be completed in the overall supreme interest of stability in Mozambique’.

Asked by Democratic Alliance lawmaker Nicolaas Pienaar whether he would publicly condemn the ongoing violence of civil liberties, including freedom of speech, occurring in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Mashatile side-stepped the question: ‘If you ask me, Honourable Pienaar, am I willing to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe enjoy equal human rights; that they have elections in an environment that is free and peaceful… My answer is “yes”. I’ll work hard to support that. But we have to engage the leaders of these countries. When you just rush to condemn, they close their doors and you are not able to resolve them,’ he said. Economic Freedom Fighters MP Khanya Ceza said SA’s policy of ‘constructive engagement or quiet diplomacy has been a source of concern’. In response, Mashatile said the situation in Mozambique was a ‘matter of concern’ to SA, but he stopped short of explicitly condemning the Mozambican Government.

Full Daily Maverick report