ANC leader Jacob Zuma presser on Zimbabwe leadership talks
(21 Oct 2008)
1. African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma at podium
2. Zuma and crowd at news conference
3. Cutaway reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jacob Zuma, African National Congress leader
"The troika of SADC (Southern African Development Community) was meeting in Swaziland yesterday but what we hear, from the news, that meeting couldn't be taken very further because Morgan, the leader of the MDC, did not have a passport to travel to Swaziland, which is something that we can't understand. That you have such a problem to resolve and it cannot be resolved just because one of the key players doesn't have a passport. We can't understand why a citizen of Zimbabwe doesn't have a passport to travel. But I think in a sense it indicates some difficulties, but we're hoping that the situation will be resolved. I think we are at one in wishing that the problems must resolved, so that the issues could be addressed in Zimbabwe."
5. Cutaway reporters
6. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
The leader of South Africa's ruling party criticised Zimbabwe's government on Tuesday for hindering talks on a power sharing deal with the opposition.
Speaking in Washington, African National Congress President Jacob Zuma called on other African countries to increase pressure on Zimbabwe.
On Monday, Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai complained that his government's refusal to grant him a passport made it difficult to attend power sharing talks in nearby Swaziland.
Tsvangirai's absence prompted Zimbabwe's neighbours to propose moving a meeting of a committee of the main regional bloc to Zimbabwe next week.
Zuma said he couldn't understand why Tsvangirai had not been issued with a passport, especially in light of the political problems that have engulfed the country.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai signed a power-sharing deal last month but are deadlocked over how to allocate ministries in a 31-member unity Cabinet.
However Zuma expressed optimism that issue will be resolved in Zimbabwe declaring he believes the leaders of the region "are at one" on the sentiments towards the country.
Zuma is expected to be elected South African president next year. He was in Washington to meet Bush administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
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