Human rights situation in Zimbabwe best resolved through dialogue, says DIRCO

CAPE TOWN - Government says it believes the simmering human rights situation in Zimbabwe is best resolved through dialogue.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola will be in Harare this week for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit amid reports of a crackdown on dissenters who might want to stage protests during the meeting of heads of state. 

On Monday, the Department of International Relations said it couldn’t insist on the summit being hosted in another country.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will take over the SADC presidency at the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit this week.

The Department of International Relations said it’s therefore standard procedure the summit is held in Harare and it had no power to suggest otherwise. 

Deputy Director-General Clayson Monyela: "We’ve always maintained the principle that political challenges are best resolved through peaceful means and that means dialogue. So, that will be our position even now." 

Amnesty International has reported more than 160 people have been arrested in an ongoing crackdown allegedly to silence dissent ahead of the summit.

It’s calling on SADC leaders to speak out about this. 

"The way to resolve that would be to sit around the table with the government of the day and South Africa will have no problem playing a facilitating role as we’ve done previously." 

This week’s SADC summit is aimed at promoting innovation as a means to unlock opportunities for economic growth and development.