Elder statesmen to continue with Zimbabwe visit

Former US President Jimmy Carter and others are pressing ahead with a humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe, though the state newspaper in the troubled southern African country has signalled they are unwelcome.

The Elders, a group formed by former South African President Nelson Mandela, last week had announced plans to visit Zimbabwe.

After a story in Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald about the visit headlined “come at a later date,” the group reiterated its plans, without directly addressing the newspaper story.

Also taking part in the two-day visit starting Saturday are former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Graca Machel, an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights who is married to Mr Mandela.

The Herald quoted an unnamed source as calling Mr Annan “openly critical of (Zimbabwean) President (Robert) Mugabe and his administration”.

An Elders spokeswoman added only that The Elders had requested a meeting with Mr Mugabe but had yet to receive a formal response.

Mr Annan stressed in a statement that the visit was separate from a regional attempt to get Mr Mugabe and his rivals to implement a power-sharing agreement that has been stalled since it was signed in September.

The opposition accuses Mr Mugabe, in power since 1980 and seen as increasingly autocratic, of trying to hold onto the most powerful Cabinet posts.

The political deadlock has left Zimbabweans stalked by disease and hunger virtually without a government as their economy collapses.

While the Elders’ visit was strictly humanitarian, “we urge Zimbabwe’s political leaders to move swiftly to fully implement the 15 September agreement, particularly the provisions on humanitarian and food assistance,” Mr Annan said.

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, said during a visit to Berlin that he and Mr Mugabe need to form a government within two months in order to stave off a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.