South Africa, Zimbabwe share a world of realpolitik

If we were to go with the popular, media-driven sentiments and narratives, South Africa would not be relating well with Zimbabwe.

South Africa could pretty well have aided a “regime change” in Harare that would have seen the back of Zimbabwe’s veteran leader, President Robert Mugabe.

It is something Western countries, chiefly Britain and America, have demanded of South Africa. Zimbabwe’s own opposition often looks up to their more powerful and richer cousins.

However, South Africa has resisted these pressures, something that confounds watchers.

This week, President Jacob Zuma rolled out the red carpet for President Mugabe for bilateral talks under the framework of the Bi-National Commission.

Zuma attended the same fixture in Harare last year and, in the latest recent event, the two countries signed five cooperation agreements in several areas, from trade to migration. Mugabe’s visit came under a cloud, due to the case in which his wife, Grace, allegedly assaulted a model, leading to a diplomatic incident.

This attracted frenzied reaction, but South Africa invoked diplomatic immunity to protect the Zimbabwean First Lady.

The incident was being flagged by the media ahead of Mugabe’s visit this week, but it was to miss the point completely. Perhaps more than many of us care to admit, South Africa actually needs Zimbabwe.

Welcome to the world of realpolitik. Zimbabwe is one of South Africa’s top five trading partners and goods up to the value of US$5 billion exchange hands.