Calling him a “rogue democrat” for his Zimbabwe policy, and pinning their hopes (and this is odd for an American newspaper) on Mbeki’s rival Jacob Zuma to play a more decisive role:
If there is good news in this sordid story — and consolation for the proponents of an alliance of democracies — it is that Mr. Mbeki’s policy is increasingly unpopular in his own country. South Africa’s free press has been scathing in its denunciations of the coddling of Mr. Mugabe, as have opposition party leaders. Even better, the new president of Mr. Mbeki’s own African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, has distanced himself from the Zimbabwe posture, as have the party’s secretary general and treasurer. Mr. Zuma defeated Mr. Mbeki in a party election in December and is the front-runner to succeed him when he leaves office in a year. So democracy may yet rectify a foreign policy that is shaming South Africa — and preventing an end to Zimbabwe’s misery.
They are generally right, but as I have argued here, Mbeki is still key to ending the Zimbabwe impasse.
[...] Africa is a Country wrote an interesting post today on Washington Post calls out Thabo Mbeki on ZimbabweHere’s a quick excerptCalling him a “rogue democrat” for his Zimbabwe policy, and pinning their hopes (and this is odd for an American newspaper)…Even better, the new president of Mr. Mbeki’s own African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, has distanced himself from the Zimbabwe posture, as have the party’s secretary general and treasurer….They are generally right, but as I have argued here, Mbeki is still key to ending the Zimbabwe impasse…. [...]
[...] Harry’s Place wrote an interesting post today on Washington Post calls out Mbeki on ZimbabweHere’s a quick excerpt [...]