SOUTH AFRICA: South Africans hopeful Tsvangirai swearing in, will bring positive change

Record ID: 455688

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: South Africans hopeful Tsvangirai swearing in, will bring positive change
  • Date: 12th February 2009
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 11, 2009) (REUTERS) THE TIMES NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING: "MORGAN NEW ZIM PM TODAY" PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET ZIMBABWEANS SEATED IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLITICAL ANALYST, DR SIPHAMANDLA ZONDI, SAYING: "I think the swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai as the executive Prime Minister of Zimbabwe is a major milestone, in that long protected process of negotiation towards finding final peace and a road to democracy in Zimbabwe. And it certainly will boost the confidence of many people in Zimbabwe, who were buoyed by the signing of the September 15 global power sharing agreement." ZIMBABWEANS SEATED IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLITICAL ANALYST, DR SIPHAMANDLA ZONDI, SAYING: "We can only just help join the people of Zimbabwe as they witness this great opportunity to turn things around, and turn things around in an amicable, in a peaceful and in a very mature way." PEOPLE IN THE STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (English) METHODIST CHURCH'S BISHOP VERRYN, SAYING: "If the parties concerned keep to the agreements that they've made then we stand a chance of opening up political space that in actual fact could result in formidable change in that country. However, if any one of the parties is taking this lightly or is not going to respect the other; if anyone of these parties do not recognise the real seriousness of this country and stop blaming international communities and the west or whoever it may be then we're in trouble. This thing could in actual fact legitimise ongoing oppression, suppression, torture, the rest of it." PEOPLE IN STREETS
  • Embargoed: 27th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABMY2TU9G6GEP5FGXK11VZHWV1
  • Story Text: A South African political analyst says the swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe's Prime Minister is a major milestone, but a Johannesburg bishop says there is a possibility the move could legitimise ongoing oppression.
    With opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai being sworn in as Zimbabwe's prime minister on Wednesday (February 11), many in neighbouring South Africa are hopeful it will be a step towards positive change Tsvangirai was sworn in under a power-sharing deal with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, aimed at rescuing the ruined southern African country.
    The pact agreed last year may raise hopes that a new leadership could ease widespread hardships, but mistrust and continued disagreements between the old foes raise doubts over whether they can work together.
    In South Africa, Doctor Siphamandla Zondi, of the Institute of Global Dialogue says the swearing in is a major milestone in the negotiation towards democracy in Zimbabwe.

    "And it certainly will boost the confidence of many people in Zimbabwe, who were buoyed by the signing of the September 15 global power sharing agreement," he said.

    "We can only just help join the people of Zimbabwe as they witness this great opportunity to turn things around, and turn things around in an amicable, in a peaceful and in a very mature way," Zondi added.
    Tsvangirai won a first round presidential poll against Mugabe last year but boycotted a subsequent run-off over electoral violence. Implementation of the power-sharing deal only came after increased pressure from southern African countries, fearing a total meltdown in once-prosperous Zimbabwe.

    "If the parties concerned keep to the agreements that they've made then we stand a chance of opening up political space that in actual fact could result in formidable change in that country," said Bishop Verryn who runs the Central Methodist church in Johannesburg, where thousands of Zimbabweans cram into halls to sleep, spilling on to the street outside.

    "However, if any one of the parties is taking this lightly or is not going to respect the other; if anyone of these parties do not recognise the real seriousness of this country and stop blaming international communities and the west or whoever it may be then we're in trouble. This thing could in actual fact legitimise ongoing oppression, suppression, torture, the rest of it," Bishop Verryn added.
    Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, is one of Africa's craftiest political operators. Tsvangirai is a former trade union leader known for fiery speeches and has gained respect at home and abroad by fighting rights abuses. But his leadership skills in government remain untested.
    Zimbabweans hope the new government will bring policies to revive a country suffering hyper-inflation, unemployment above 90 percent, food shortages and a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 3,500 people.
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