afrol News, 22 March - Addressing senior army officers at a military school in the capital Harare today, Zimbabwe's Information Minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said his country is relying on African countries for support and solidarity in a period when Zimbabwe has been subjected to strong international condemnations for continuously abusing the rights of its citizens.

Police in Zimbabwe recently launched a violent crackdown on opposition activists, resulting to deaths and severe injuries. Among those manhandled included the leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, who was hospitalised as a result.

Threatened by the act, Zimbabwe's neighbours that have been defending it until now, also joined the international community to pile pressures on the government. Increasing violence an economic meltdown and a steady outflow of Zimbabwean refugees is increasingly threatening regional stability.

But Minister Ndlovu told 'Zimbabwe Television' that Africans must not allow themselves to be divided by "imperialism."

He said it was apparent that the West and its news networks were demonising Zimbabwe by giving one-sided perspective. Mr Ndlovu therefore urged African countries to remain united with Zimbabwe.

But not all African leaders have kept quiet over the Zimbabwean political and economic crisis.

According to the Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa, the regional grouping - the Southern African Development Community (SADC) - now needs to get involved to provide solution for the Zimbabwean problem because "quiet diplomacy" fails to yield positive results.

President Mwanawasa described the Zimbabwean crisis as a "sinking Titanic."

Indirect condemnation of the Mugabe regime has also come from other SADC members, including South Africa, Mozambique and Mauritius. A recent SADC meeting in Lesotho however failed to address the Zimbabwean crisis.

Also beyond Southern Africa, African leaders have reacted negatively to the current violence in Zimbabwe. The current chairman of the African Union (AU), Ghanaian President John Kufuor, called the situation in Zimbabwe "embarrassing" for Africa.

Alpha Oumar Konaré, the President of the African Union Commission, called on the Zimbabwean government to respect the human rights and democratic principles in the country. One way to do that, he said, is for the government and the opposition to "commit each other to sincere and constructive talks."

By staff writer

© afrol News

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