LEADER of South Africa’s main opposition party Mmusi Maimane has Tuesday called for an intervention in the economic crisis in Zimbabwe castigating the quiet diplomacy policy that is used by the South African government, Zim Morning Post has learnt.
His sentiments were also in relation to the current xenophobic attacks on foreigners where he accused Cyril Ramaphosa of being ‘silent’.
He challenged Ramaphosa to “come out of hiding and break his silence on the unfolding social and economic crises”.
Maimane’s call follows days of civil unrest in Gauteng, which has seen residents looting foreign-owned businesses in Tembisa, Alexandra, Hillbrow, Cleveland, Jeppestown and the Johannesburg CBD.
On the Zimbabwe issue, Maimane he categorically stated that Ramaphosa must dump the quiet diplomacy stance in the wake of citizens reported to be sleeping on empty stomachs.
The youthful leader registered his sentiments on his official microblogging site Twitter.
“Fellow South Africans, we cannot adopt quiet diplomacy when it comes to Zimbabwe. Reports are such that over 2 million Zim citizens went to bed hungry last night and every other.” Maimane said.
He further said that Zimbabwe is on the verge of becoming a failed state.
“The country is fast becoming a failed state, act of violence on the rise therefore SA must intervene,” Maimane added.
Government however scoffed at his sentiments submitting that its preoccupation is nation building and not majoring in the minors.
Speaking to this publication Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana said the government was not moved by such statements.
“We are not interested in the statements from some opposition parties in other countries, our focus is in the building of this country,” Mangwana said.
Maimane is also the current chairman of Southern African Network of Opposition Parties.
Maimane’s statement comes at a time Zimbabweans and other foreigners in South Africa have been attacked in the ongoing xenophobic attacks.
More than 3 million Zimbabweans in South Africa are vulnerable to these attacks.
A huge number of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa fled the country in search of employment .
The statement is a direct confrontation to the calls by members of the Southern Africa Development Committee (SADC) member states who blame sanctions for the economic deterioration in the country.
The statement is likely to put more pressure on African leaders who are meeting in Capetown on September 4 for the African Edition of the World Economic Forum.
More than 28 African business and political leaders are expected to attend the forum.
