South Africa's Thabo Mbeki was a well known supporter of Robert Mugabe who never showed an interest in getting tough despite countless reports of human rights abuses. In Mbeki's eyes, somehow the violence didn't matter because Mugabe was a fellow liberation fighter. Starvation, torture, political assassination and election theft were of no consequence. Soon to be South African President Jacob Zuma, also of the liberation movement, sees Zimbabwe in a completely different way. Zuma has been close to various groups within South Africa who have protested against Mugabe's terror and assuming he continues along the same path, will change South Africa's position on Zimbabwe. This will be a very welcome and long awaited change. The Guardian:
Zuma has been outspoken in his criticism of Mugabe's autocratic rule. He supports of the power-sharing agreement between Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change, led by Morgan Tsvangirai but he has criticised his predecessor Thabo Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy" towards Zimbabwe.Another change - potentially, at least - is the tribal change in power. Mbeki is a Xhosa as is Nelson Mandela. Zuma is a Zulu from the hear of KwaZulu-Natal. The two tribes share no love for each other for historical reasons including during the anti-apartheid struggle. Even today, KwaZulu-Natal is very separated politically from the other regions of the country. How much this will impact Zuma's term is a question to be answered but internally, this is a major shift in power.
Tendai Biti, finance minister in the unity government and secretary-general of the MDC, is looking forward to a Zuma presidency. "I don't think it will be quiet diplomacy," he said. "That was buried on 22 September 2008, the day Mbeki was removed. I expect a more forthright, honest and hands-on diplomacy.
"Jacob Zuma is not Thabo Mbeki and that means a lot. I know the man and meet him regularly and know the way he thinks."
