In Zimbabwe: lawlessness, massacre and the threat of extinction

South Africa, the only country with real influence in Zimbabwe, yesterday distanced itself from growing international calls for Robert Mugabe to step down.

President Kgalema Motlanthe instead took a swipe at Britain for seeking to impose its will on its former colony and clung to the hope that a moribund power-sharing agreement would be revived and implemented this week despite the main opposition's repudiation of the deal unless real concessions are made.

Asked how bad things had to get before South Africa, the region's economic powerhouse, joined calls for the 84-year-old dictator to leave office, Mr Motlanthe told journalists: “It's really not for us. I mean I don't know if the British feel qualified to impose that on the people of Zimbabwe, but we feel that we should support and take our cue from what they [Zimbabweans] want.”

Mr Motlanthe, who took over after Thabo Mbeki, who was much criticised for what was seen as one-sided mediation efforts in Zimbabwe, echoed the views of his predecessor that a government of national unity remained the priority and the best solution to the crisis.

“It is our wish that an inclusive government be established as soon as yesterday because only then will it be in a position to deal with the problems facing the people of Zimbabwe. The issue of whether President Mugabe should go or not has never been raised by the parties. That is why in the agreement they agreed he should serve as President,” Mr Mothlanthe said. “Once it is in place we believe it will create the possibility of dealing with the real problems.”

Mr Mugabe reluctantly agreed a power-sharing deal in September after winning rigged elections in March and June, but has refused to hand over key ministries to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The MDC, backed by all election monitoring groups, claims that the people made clear at the polls what they wanted but were cheated. It says that it accepted the deal as second best in the interests of peace and stability but accuses Mr Mugabe of continuing to cheat by offering them only minor ministries and portfolios.

The Mugabe Government this week announced plans to amend the constitution to allow the creation of an inclusive government in line with the accord - a move that its neighbours have applauded as a step in the right direction. The opposition dismiss the change, which would allow the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to be sworn in as Prime Minister, as another ploy.

Mr Motlanthe, widely seen as a caretaker president until elections next year, was speaking after a meeting of southern Africa countries in Pretoria decided to launch an urgent humanitarian campaign to help its neighbour fight a cholera epidemic and overcome acute food shortages. All 15 members of the Southern African Development Community pledged to contribute to the aid initiative.

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