VOANews.com

 

Today from VOA:

News in 45 Languages
Botswana's Foreign Minister Says Mugabe Must Be Isolated

26 November 2008

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe looks on during the opening plenary of the Southern African Development Community Extraordinary Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, 09 Nov 2008
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe looks on during the opening plenary of the Southern African Development Community Extraordinary Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, 09 Nov 2008
Botswana's foreign minister says the international community must isolate Zimbabwe to end the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

In an interview aired on British radio Wednesday, Phandu Skelemani also said African countries need to close their borders with Zimbabwe.  Skelemani said President Mugabe could not stay in power if his landlocked country was cut off from fuel for a week.

Power-sharing talks between Mr. Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have stalled since the sides signed a basic agreement in September.

The talks resumed in South Africa Tuesday, but MDC officials say they are pessimistic about reaching a final deal.  

The parties are divided over which will control key ministries in a proposed unity government.

On Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said an agreement is urgent in light of Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis.

The U.N. says more than 360 people have died and almost nine-thousand have been infected in a cholera outbreak that began three months ago.  

Zimbabwe's deputy health minister, Edwin Maguti, said Wednesday the situation is "under control," and that there is no need to declare an emergency.  The deputy health minister blamed the cholera cases on sanctions imposed by Western governments.

Those sanctions are travel bans and asset freezes aimed at individual government officials and Mugabe allies.  The United States sanctioned four more supporters of Mugabe on Tuesday, saying they had helped the Zimbabwean leader undermine democracy.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


E-mail This Article E-mail This Article
Print This Article Print Version
  Related Stories
US Puts Sanctions on Business 'Cronies' of Zimbabwe's Mugabe
Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Resume, UN's Ban Urges Resolution
Zimbabwe’s Hard-Pressed City Dwellers Cultivate Urban Agriculture
 
  Top Story
US House Approves Health Care Reform Measure

  More Stories
Iran Lawmakers Say Tehran Will Reject UN-Backed Nuclear Deal
G20: Financial Stimulus Still Needed to Stabilize Economic Recovery
Afghanistan: NATO Strike Kills 7 Afghan Security Members  Audio Clip Available
Israelis Rally for Peace on Rabin Anniversary
Obama Praises Those Who Ended Fort Hood Rampage
Afghanistan Rejects UN Criticism of Karzai
Navy Ship Honoring 9/11 Victims is Commissioned Into Fleet
China's Wen Promises Greater Cooperation With Arab Nations  Audio Clip Available
Pakistan Army: 12 Militants Killed in Recent Fighting
Iraqi Parliament Fails Again to Approve New Electoral Law
Medvedev: Not All Hopes Realized After Berlin Wall Fell
US Disappointed at Breakdown in Honduras Political Talks
Berlin Prepares for Celebrations 20 Years After Fall of Wall  Video clip available
Harnessing Waste Produces Gas for Cooking in Kenya  Video clip available