Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
24 October 2001
Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana will represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Ministers meeting scheduled for Harare Zimbabwe on 25 and 26 October 2001. Minister Mdladlana will be standing in for Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma who is currently in Cairo for the SA-Egypt Joint Bilateral Commission
The meeting in Harare follows an invitation by Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge during their Commonwealth Ministers' meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria on 6 September.
The purpose of the Harare meeting will be to discuss the way forward in terms of implementing the provisions of the Abuja Agreement which include the following:
(a) Commitment to the Harare Commonwealth Declaration and the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme on the Harare Declaration;
(b) There will be no further occupation of farm lands;
(c) To speed the process by which farms that do not meet set criteria, are de-listed;
(d) For farms that are not designated, occupiers would be moved to legally acquired lands;
(e) Acceleration of discussions with the UNDP, with a view to reaching agreement as quickly as possible;
(f) Commitment to restore the rule of law to the process of land reform programme;
(g) Commitment to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and to take firm action against violence and intimidation; and
The international partners also undertook:
(a) to engage constructively with the UNDP and the Government of Zimbabwe in pursuing an effective and sustainable land reform programme, on the basis of the UNDP proposals of December 2000;
(b) to respond positively to any request from the Government of Zimbabwe in support of the electoral process; and
(c) to continue to contribute to poverty reduction programmes for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe; and that those partners present (Australia, Canada and United Kingdom), would actively pursue these objectives.
The United Kingdom committed itself to meeting its obligations of the land reform programme but on the condition that it should take place within a legally defined framework.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853