- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: South African team to assess Zimbabwe food crisis
- Date: 5th December 2008
- Summary: PRETORIA; SOUTH AFRICA (DECEMBER 05, 2008) (REUTERS) SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON THEMBA MASEKO ADDRESSING THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) THEMBA MASEKO, SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, SAYING: "The South African government continues to be concerned about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, particularly the humanitarian and food crisis, as we announced yesterday, the president will be convening a meeting of South African ministers to consider possible assistance that we can then give to the people of Zimbabwe, to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis." MEDIA CUT AWAY MORE OF THEMBA MASEKO ADDRESSING THE MEDIA JOURNALIST LISTENING TO THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) THEMBA MASEKO, SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, SAYING: "Expectation is that ordinary Africans throughout the continent are slowly growing impatient with the political situation in Zimbabwe, and we remain optimistic that this constitutional amendment constitution will pave the way for this political settlement to be reached, so we are in contact with the facilitator of the talks (referring to Thabo Mbeki) to ensure that the political leaders, the principals signed this amendment, to make sure that parliament is convened as a matter of absolute emergency, make sure that the stage is set for a new government to be put in place." MORE OF THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) THEMBA MASEKO, SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, SAYING: "From a security point of view, the South African government is obviously monitoring the situation quite closely, we are obviously extremely concerned to see that members of the security forces are already starting to go in the streets and demonstrate, so that situation will obviously be something of a major worry to the South African government, so we are monitoring that situation and no concrete decision has been taken yet about what to do." MORE OF THE MEDIA
- Embargoed: 20th December 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAA8T2NUAE1OR2PPFDBALKY02RK
- Story Text: South Africa will send a team of senior government officials to Zimbabwe next week to assess the food crisis in the neighbouring country, a government spokesman said on Friday (December 5).
South Africa will send a team of senior government officials to Zimbabwe next week to assess the food crisis in the neighbouring country and investigate what aid is needed, a government spokesman said on Friday (December 5).
Zimbabwe has declared a national emergency and appealed for international help as it battles a cholera outbreak that has killed at least 565 people. South African government spokesman Themba Maseko said a team of officials will visit Zimbabwe next week to investigate the food and health crisis.
"The South African government continues to be concerned about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, particularly the humanitarian and food crisis, as we announced yesterday, the president will be convening a meeting of South African ministers to consider possible assistance that we can then give to the people of Zimbabwe, to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis." Maseko said.
Thousands of Zimbabweans are believed to cross the border, often illegally, into South Africa each day.
Economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, isolated by Western countries under President Robert Mugabe's increasingly authoritarian rule, has left the health system ill-prepared to cope with a cholera epidemic that it once would have prevented or treated easily.
"Expectation is that ordinary Africans throughout the continent are slowly growing impatient with the political situation in Zimbabwe, and we remain optimistic that this constitutional amendment constitution will pave the way for this political settlement to be reached, so we are in contact with the facilitator of the talks (referring to Thabo Mbeki) to ensure that the political leaders, the principals signed this amendment, to make sure that parliament is convened as a matter of absolute emergency, make sure that the stage is set for a new government to be put in place." added Maseko.
There is not enough money to pay doctors and nurses or buy medicine and aid agency Oxfam estimated that at least 300,000 people, weakened by lack of food, are in danger from the cholera epidemic.
South Africa has already donated 500,000 rand ($49,020) worth of medical supplies to the Wold Health Organisation, while South African companies have pledged 700,000 rand for tents, beds and blankets. Concerned was also raised about the ongoing riots in Harare's streets.
"From a security point of view, the South African government is obviously monitoring the situation quite closely, we are obviously extremely concerned to see that members of the security forces are already starting to go in the streets and demonstrate, so that situation will obviously be something of a major worry to the South African government, so we are monitoring that situation and no concrete decision has been taken yet about what to do." Maseko said.
South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu said late on Thursday (December 4) Mugabe must step down or be removed by force.
Hopes of rescuing Zimbabwe from the humanitarian crisis are complicated by the deadlock between Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai over how to implement a power-sharing pact. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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