ZIMBABWE – HARARE - South Africa Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says President Mugabe's old and his country should not get bogged down with how to remove him from power.

 

Motlanthe told the SA House of Assembly on Wednesday that instead, SA should dedicate efforts in finding ways of rescuing the economy from meltdown.

 

 

"President Mugabe is of an advanced age," Motlanthe said. "It is not very helpful to devote all our efforts to dealing with him as an individual.

 

 

"The lifting of sanctions is meant to attract necessary investments into Zimbabwe so that economic recovery can take effect. We know that, once political stability returns, the region can only benefit from that development."

The South African government got leads on the sanctions removal lobby from Zimbabwean principals, Motlanthe told Parliament.

"The answer, in short, is that continued calls for sanctions would serve no useful purpose. (They) would not serve the ordinary people of Zimbabwe," he said.

Mugabe blames the appalling state of the economy on sanctions not his economic vandalism. Motlanthe was unequivocal that his government had made it categorically clear to Mugabe that rights violations would not be tolerated.

"We have spelt out that when (British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown and (US President) Barack Obama and the EU want progress, these are the issues the Zimbabwean political leadership ought to address to ensure that investors come to the party," he said.

Motlanthe added that the Zimbabwean parties should realise that this was their last chance to "pull themselves out of the morass".

Human Rights Watch has however warned the removal of sanctions before rights violations end in the country.

"The sanctions debate is a red herring since none of them prevent the country from moving forward," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at HRW, in a statement.

"Power sharing will only work when repressive laws are repealed and human rights irreversibly improved. Sanctions must not be lifted until then."

 

LOOKING FOR A PROPER ZIMBO TO DATE? CLICK HERE!

 

 

 

 

JOKE OF THE DAY - Gauteng Metro policeman pulled a car over and told the driver that because he had been wearing his seat belt he had just won R5 000, in an Arrive Alive safety competition.

 

Being a Zimbabwean, the driver could hardly believe his luck. "What are you going to do with your cash?" asked the traffic cop.

 

"Well I guess I'm going to get a drivers licence," he answered. "Oh, don't listen to him," yelled a woman in the passenger seat. "He tries to be smart when he's drunk."

 

This woke up the guy in the back seat who took one look at the cop and moaned, "I knew we wouldn't get far in a stolen car."

 

At that moment there was a knock from the boot and a voice said, "Are we over the border yet?" The cop fainted..”

 

Got a story, joke, quote, opinion or want your letter published, please e-mail Editor at editor@zimdaily.com