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South Africa, Zimbabwe Cooperate Against 'Regime Change'

South Africa, Zimbabwe Cooperate Against 'Regime Change'

Nov. 16 (EIRNS)—A statement released at a meeting of the joint South African-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defense and Security said the two countries will work together against the policy of "regime change" in the countries of southern Africa. Released yesterday, the statement said, "The commission resolved to exchange information on those forces, internal and external, which through misinformation and disinformation are bent on undermining the process."

The meeting was held in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa/ South African Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said southern African countries faced a "very real challenge" of regime change encouraged by foreign powers, according to a SAPA release in yesterday's Mail and Guardian.

Zimbabwean Defense Minister Sydney Sekeramayi accused Britain of being the chief architect of the regime change policy against his country. He thanked South African President Thabo Mbeki for mediating the crisis between the ruling Zanu PF and the opposition Movement for a Democratic Change. "It would not come as a surprise if Britain, the chief architect of regime change agenda in Zimbabwe, makes a last ditch attempt at derailing the talks."

Lekota also called on the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to use their influence in the African Union to address the dangers of the newly established United States African military command, known as Africom.

"We also have to manage Africom, which threatens our sovereignty," Lekota said, and warned of the "growing danger" of private security companies. "This is a complex area because it's difficult to legislate against it. We need to share information so that we can at least keep an eye on what these companies are doing."