Mbeki is an idealist

While MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has passed a vote of no confidence against President Thabo Mbeki’s mediation efforts to try to resolve crisis in Zimbabwe; Mbeki remains optimistic about the situation in that country.

ANC President, Jacob Zuma has come out contradicting Mbeki by calling the situation in Zimbabwe a “crisis,” his cabinet ditching him and the mounting international pressure on SADC to come out to condemn the Zimbabwean situation. Mbeki however remains steadfast about his “soft” diplomatic approach towards President Robert Mugabe. Mbeki’s critics have labeled him as a denialist and have criticized his quiet-diplomacy. This is because Mbeki is an idealist who believes in diplomatic talks to resolve political deadlock in Zimbabwe. Photo: Alexander Joe, AFP