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Insulting Mugabe 'will not help' Insulting Mugabe 'will not help'
(about 1 hour later)
Tanzania's leader Jakaya Kikwete says that condemning Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is counterproductive.Tanzania's leader Jakaya Kikwete says that condemning Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is counterproductive.
He said calling Mr Mugabe a murderer and a violator of human rights would not resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.He said calling Mr Mugabe a murderer and a violator of human rights would not resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.
His comments come ahead of a December summit of European and African leaders which the UK's Gordon Brown says he will not attend if Mr Mugabe goes.His comments come ahead of a December summit of European and African leaders which the UK's Gordon Brown says he will not attend if Mr Mugabe goes.
The German leader is in South Africa where she is expected to bring up Zimbabwe with President Thabo Mbeki.The German leader is in South Africa where she is expected to bring up Zimbabwe with President Thabo Mbeki.
If Tanzania said, 'You are hopeless! A murderer! A violator of basic human rights!' does that remove Mugabe from office? It doesn't President Jakaya KikweteIf Tanzania said, 'You are hopeless! A murderer! A violator of basic human rights!' does that remove Mugabe from office? It doesn't President Jakaya Kikwete
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will attend the summit in Lisbon in December come what may, but it is thought she is hoping African Union leaders will persuade Mr Mugabe to stay away. Angela Merkel described the situation in Zimbabwe as disastrous - but said that its president, Robert Mugabe, should be allowed to attend a Europe-Africa summit aimed at tackling the continent's problems.
The German Chancellor had already signalled that she would attend the summit in Lisbon in December come what may.
Speaking in Ethiopia on the first leg of her first-ever sub-Saharan African tour, Ms Merkel said countries of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) regional bloc should all work together to pressure President Mugabe.Speaking in Ethiopia on the first leg of her first-ever sub-Saharan African tour, Ms Merkel said countries of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) regional bloc should all work together to pressure President Mugabe.
"We are deeply concerned about the ongoing human rights violations," she said referring to the crisis in Zimbabwe."We are deeply concerned about the ongoing human rights violations," she said referring to the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation rate, and four out of five people there live below the poverty line.Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation rate, and four out of five people there live below the poverty line.
'Price freeze backfires''Price freeze backfires'
"Mugabe is there. He is president; he has been elected," Tanzania's President Kikwete said in an interview with the London-based Financial Times (FT) newspaper."Mugabe is there. He is president; he has been elected," Tanzania's President Kikwete said in an interview with the London-based Financial Times (FT) newspaper.
Mr Kikwete says African diplomacy should resolve the Zimbabwe crisisMr Kikwete says African diplomacy should resolve the Zimbabwe crisis
"If Tanzania said, 'You are hopeless! A murderer! A violator of basic human rights!' does that remove Mugabe from office? It doesn't.""If Tanzania said, 'You are hopeless! A murderer! A violator of basic human rights!' does that remove Mugabe from office? It doesn't."
He said international powers should instead put their weight behind regional diplomatic efforts which "will pay dividends over time".He said international powers should instead put their weight behind regional diplomatic efforts which "will pay dividends over time".
The Tanzanian viewpoint is that by working with the Zimbabwean leader they hope to get the next year's elections conducted freely and fairly.The Tanzanian viewpoint is that by working with the Zimbabwean leader they hope to get the next year's elections conducted freely and fairly.
According to the FT, Sadc finance ministers have been reviewing how to shore up Zimbabwe's collapsing economy - the official inflation rate is currently 6,500%.According to the FT, Sadc finance ministers have been reviewing how to shore up Zimbabwe's collapsing economy - the official inflation rate is currently 6,500%.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's police have revealed that more than 23,000 people have been arrested for flouting price controls imposed by the government three months ago.Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's police have revealed that more than 23,000 people have been arrested for flouting price controls imposed by the government three months ago.
"As Operation Reduce Prices continues we have so far as police arrested 23 585 people," South African Press Association quotes police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka as telling state radio. "As Operation Reduce Prices continues, we have so far as police arrested 23,585 people," the South African Press Association quotes police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka as telling state radio.
The crackdown has backfired and there are now chronic shortages of basic foodstuffs on the formal market, Sapa reports.The crackdown has backfired and there are now chronic shortages of basic foodstuffs on the formal market, Sapa reports.