afrol News, 21 March - The Archbishop of Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, has faulted the South African government for its failure to use its powers to commit the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, to shift from his reign of terror against the opposition.

He wondered why South African leaders have wasted long time to pressurise Zimbabwe through sanctions. "They could force Mugabe to change but they have been watching this thing. It is now the eighth year it has been deteriorating," Archbishop Ncube told the South African public broadcaster, 'SABC'.

The Archbishop's comments followed the willingness of South Africa, which currently provides the President of the UN Security Council, to accept the British request to brief the UN on the erosion of humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

This request was earlier turned down by Dumisani Kumalo, South Africa's Ambassador to the UN, arguing that the Zimbabwean crisis does not threaten international peace and security.

Emyr Jones Parry, Britain's UN ambassador, urged for the widespread condemnation on the manhandling of Zimbabwean opposition activists, including the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai.

Simearashe Mbengegwi, the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister, on Monday threatened Western diplomats with expulsion should they attempt to render any support to the opposition. But the United States Ambassador in Harare, Christopher Dell, reportedly walked out of the meeting with the Zimbabwean official.

Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister blamed the Western embassies for going too far by offering food and water to the jailed opposition activists.

Last week, the police invaded the prayer meeting of opposition and started assaulting people, including the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr Tsvangirai and several others were hospitalised as a result. The MDC leader said the assault has bolstered his inspiration to oust President Mugabe from power.

Morgan Tsvangirai was released from hospital only last Sunday.

Zimbabwean authorities further prevented opposition members from leaving the country for treatment, arguing charges of inciting violence hang over them.

In a closed-door meeting, the Zimbabwean Minister relied on the Vienna Convention to warn diplomats to comport themselves because they are barred from interfering in internal affairs of their host nation. Minister Mbengegwi threatened that Zimbabwe would not hesitate to hide behind the Vienna Convention to declare diplomats persona non grata if they act otherwise.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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