Chairperson, "The problems in Zimbabwe must be solved by Zimbabweans." This was what hon Minister Trevor Manuel's answer was to the Zimbabwean crisis that threatens to overwhelm a once prosperous country and subject millions of people to starvation and abuse by their leaders.
His answer, it would appear, is that we should do nothing, but sit by and idly watch as an entire country and the people are robbed of their dignity, their freedom and their most basic rights to food, shelter and clean water.
Only a right-thinking person could do nothing. Of course, all Manuel is doing, is to mimic our President who has made no progress whatsoever in his mediation in the Zimbabwean crisis and seems quite content to treat the dictator of Harare as a hero.
The hon Minister has also conveniently forgotten that during the terrible '80s the ANC didn't even support the policy of constructive engagement which has been pursued by some of our countries, believing that the only option was the armed struggle.
The hon Minister has also conveniently forgotten that he is a former member of the UDF. That organisation was subjected to the same brutal tactics that the MDC is being subjected to, today, by the Mugabe regime.
Hon Minister, I believe that you owe the suffering masses in Zimbabwe an apology for this heartless point of view that you have adopted. [Applause.]