South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi
Maimane says he will visit Zimbabwe this week to seek solutions to the
ongoing crisis.
Mr Maimane hopes to garner support
across the region for intervention in Zimbabwean, which is facing its
worst economic crisis since attaining independence in 1980.
“I
will pay a working visit to Zimbabwe this week. I will meet with
current opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, and former Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Tendai Biti, among others," Mr Maimane
said on Monday.
"The purpose of this visit is to seek
practical solutions to the ongoing crisis, and garner support across the
region for much-needed intervention in Zimbabwe.”
Among
other things, the opposition leaders expect to discuss the DA's
intention to approach the United Nations (UN), the International
Criminal Court (ICC) and parliament over what the party terms a
political and humanitarian crisis.
Brutal crackdown
“Widespread civilian suppression, military-led violence, and
bloodshed have ensued, as (President) Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF
government has implemented what can only be described as a dictator-like
military clampdown on citizens, which has to date claimed the lives of
at least 12 people,” said Mr Maimane
Earlier this month, Zimbabweans took to the streets, sparking a brutal crackdown by the country's security forces.
Mr
Maimane revealed that DA was on the verge of writing to the office of
the prosecutor of the ICC to request an investigation into the conduct
of the government of Zimbabwe as per Article 15 of the Rome Statute.
He
added that the party would formally request the intervention of the UN
Human Rights Council and an urgent joint meeting of the South African
parliament’s portfolio committees on home affairs, international
relations and cooperation, police and defence and military veterans to
deliberate on the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.
Currently detained
DA
will also request the national assembly to urgently debate the impact
of the violence by Zimbabwean government on South Africa.
“Zimbabweans
are fleeing their country, as we are told by border officials that over
130,000 people crossed the Zimbabwean/SA border in a single day in
mid-January. The situation is dire,” said Mr Maimane.
He
said despite the humanitarian crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC
government had “sat on its hands and watched on, employing its ‘quiet
diplomacy’ policy”.
“There has been no advocacy for the
citizens, no justice for the deceased, and no protection of civil
liberties for those who are currently detained,” concluded Mr Maimane.
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