Question NW151 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
16 March 2020 - NW151
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
In view of the deteriorating political and economic situation in Zimbabwe and the recent efforts by the former President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, to initiate a political dialogue among Zimbabwe’s political actors, what steps have been taken by her department to (a) encourage a formal political dialogue in Zimbabwe and (b) stop the continued abuse of human rights by the Zimbabwean government?
Reply:
a) The Department of International Relations and Cooperation uses the existing bilateral engagements with Zimbabwe to discuss all matters including political, economic and security situation in the country. Examples of such platforms are: the Binational Commission (BNC) held in Harare, Zimbabwe in March 2019; the BNC Mid-Term Review meeting hosted by South Africa on 18 November 2019; including the Symposium convened by the Minister at UNISA on 18 November 2019, where the importance of an inclusive political dialogue in Zimbabwe was underscored as part of wider solutions to solve the challenges faced by the country. The Minister is also scheduled to meet with Zimbabwe’s Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) on 2 April 2020.
b) Promotion and Protection of Human Rights remain central to South Africa’s foreign policy and this informs South Africa’s bilateral engagements with all countries.