Downing Street Says » Press conference with President Zuma

A transcript of a press conference given by the Prime Minister and President Zuma of South Africa in London on 4 March 2010.

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Can I say first of all that it is a huge pleasure for me to welcome President Zuma to Downing Street on the visit to the country that has already led to the reception last night, the state dinner at Buckingham Palace where the President spoke with such eloquence about the relationships between Britain and South Africa. For us, this is an incredibly important visit; we have 12 ministers from the South African government with us and we have 200 business leaders from South Africa and as President Zuma said last night, it is the biggest business delegation that South Africa has ever sent on a visit such as this, and we’re very proud that they’ve all come to Britain to look at the future of our shared efforts to improve our economies over these next few months and years.

Over the last 15 years, South Africa has restored its rightful place in the international community. South Africa is a leading and respected member of the G20 organisation. South Africa participates as part of the G8+5 in all the major discussions that we have. South Africa has been part of the climate change inner group of negotiators at Copenhagen and South Africa is part of the Nuclear Security Group that has been formed where we will meet in Washington together in April, so South Africa’s leadership not only in Africa but leadership in the world has been established by the progressive governments that have been led by President Mandela, President Mbeki and now, with great distinction, by President Zuma.

South Africa has led on climate change with its offer to cut its emissions, one of the most ambitious in the world. South Africa has led on the issues of non-proliferation, by itself renouncing nuclear weapons and ready to make initiatives like we are for the Nuclear Security Conference in April, and South Africa has led for peace in Africa. I want to praise the role of President Zuma in creating peaceful conditions in many parts of Africa as a result of South African peacekeepers. I want to thank him for the role that he is playing in bringing peace, stability and reconstruction in Zimbabwe in the most difficult of times.

Now, we have talked about a number of issues where we can move forward the strategic relationship between our two countries and make it even stronger in the years to come. We are going to work together in the run-up to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference and see what each of us can do to reduce the dependence on nuclear and at the same time get a proper bargain between non-nuclear states and nuclear states for the future.

We are going to work together to make sure that the climate change negotiations are pushed forward, first of all in Germany, then in Mexico, and then, of course, it’s South Africa who will lead the discussions on climate change in 2011. Both of us are agreed that we need legally binding agreements that will make coherence and consistency and the coordination of the world effort against climate change work most effectively. We’re also agreed about the G20 meeting that will take place in Canada and what we must do together to make sure that the world economy not only avoids depression as we have but returns to high levels of growth that can mean that there is low unemployment in every country of the world as a result of the collective actions of governments.

And South Africa and Britain are also agreed on the importance of education round the world and we have talked today about how we can create a situation where, as a result of the impetus and momentum provided by the World Cup (and I’m pleased and delighted South Africa is hosting the World Cup and I know it’s making great preparations), that at the time of the World Cup we can also see progress in achieving one goal that has eluded the world for many years and that is education for every young child in Africa and round the world. President Zuma and I have talked about a meeting that President Zuma would chair in South Africa during the time of the World Cup where we would put on the agenda, with sportsmen and women from round the world, with governments from round the world, with voluntary and non-governmental organisations round the world, how we can move forward with the impetus and momentum of the World Cup to leave one of the lasting legacies as the commitment to every child in Africa and the world having the chance of primary education for the first time. We praise South Africa for the way it is hosting the World Cup in 2010 and I am confident that President Zuma, when he goes to Wembley, will see that England is the best place to host the World Cup in 2018.

Let me thank President Zuma for his visit to this country and let me thank him for building the closest of relationships between our country. The agreements we’ve made today, which will be issued in the next few minutes, contain all these decisions but also, I think, the spirit of friendship that exists between our countries has been strengthened by everything that’s happened in the last few days. President Zuma.

Thank you, thank you, Prime Minister. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, and I’m sure the Prime Minister has covered all the issues we discussed. If I were to go over them, I would take more of your time and reduce your time to ask questions. But certainly I would like to confirm all the issues the Prime Minister has raised. Firstly, that our visit here, adding to other visits that have taken place before by the former President of democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and also by former President Thabo Mbeki, we are adding on the need to deepen relations. As we came with such a huge delegation both from government as well as business, it is an indication of how much do we take our relations with the UK. I think this makes a statement that nobody should doubt: our commitment to this historic, very deep relationship we have with the UK.

And we are very happy, because we have been received very warmly, we have had engagements with Her Majesty the Queen, very useful engagements, as well as with the Prime Minister this morning. We’ll be also engaging with businesspeople at some point, so we are very happy. The issues that the Prime Minister tabulated are the issues we discussed. I would just like to say, because before you ask the question, because I’m sure you will ask this question, that we also discussed Zimbabwe and we are agreed that we should all put our heads together to find a solution so that Zimbabwe could move forward. And I think in the manner in which you discussed, we are agreed that it is not just Zimbabwe on its own, nor Zimbabwe and southern Africa, but the entire world must put its hands together to help Zimbabweans to move forward.

And therefore we are very happy and on the issues that have been raised I am very indeed pleased of the discussions and really the positive attitude the Prime Minister has on a number of issues as well as the issues of Africa which UK has been leading as to how Africa should be undertaken. Just to underline one point, on education (and I’m sure you know that education is priority number one of our administration) the fact that we have really found one another on this issue, including the 1GOAL campaign, I think that highlights some of our understanding in terms of how we could help one another and the UK through the Prime Minister is certainly ready to play a role in that connection as well. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Just to add three things from our conversation. First of all we’ll be meeting the South African football captain and the England football captain and also Steve Gerrard who captained the team last night in a few minutes to talk about the 1GOAL campaign to emphasise the importance of education. On nuclear issues, I just repeat that we talked about the need for non-proliferation but we also talked about Iran having to answer the questions of the international community about its nuclear weapons and on the global economy we talked about our common support for solutions to the problems of the global economy including our proposal, the British proposal, of the global financial levy.

And on Zimbabwe it is true that we wish to work with the South African government to find a solution to the long-standing problems that have existed in Zimbabwe. In recent weeks you may know that we have supported the reinstatement of Zimbabwe’s voting rights at the IMF and reducing sanctions on some companies, but we want to see the commissions that have been set up, on human rights and on the media and on governance move forward quickly so that people can see the future shape of Zimbabwe as a democratic, prosperous country where there is freedom of the press and where there is respect for human rights.

Thank you very much. On the question of Zimbabwe, I hear that you agree to work together and, you know, certain conditions but are we likely to see the immediate lifting of sanctions? Mr President, have you raised that with the Prime Minister in terms of the lifting of sanctions, because the view of the regional leaders is that it is one of the stumbling blocks to what is a full realisation of a solution in Zimbabwe?

May I be clear, first of all? The sanctions that the European Union has in place do not target Zimbabwe or Zimbabweans; they target individuals, who are responsible for violence and a number of businesses linked to them. Now, the United Kingdom has always said it is ready to support progress on the ground and we know that the solution to the problems that exist in Zimbabwe will come both from within Zimbabwe and the support of the SADC led by President Zuma. I want to praise him for the efforts he is making to achieve peaceful resolution of the issues that divide Zimbabwe from the international community and that divide Zimbabweans from Zimbabweans.

To that effect, we have supported the lifting of the ban on voting rights at the IMF. We have reduced sanctions on some companies. We are ready to respond to other progress as it is made, but I emphasise the importance of these commissions in supporting human rights, freedom of press and reform of governments. President Zuma understands that we have made progress and he is determined, like we are, to continue the progress that we can make in the months to come.

Definitely, we have discussed Zimbabwe and the Prime Minister has articulated that. There are events that have happened, as you hear. Zimbabwe has been supported in the IMF that they should come back in terms of its voting rights. We have also discussed the issue of sanctions, as you know, the SADC positions. The Prime Minister has responded clearly, with an intention that there must be some progress seen in Zimbabwe. The three commissions that have been established by all parties indicate some movement forward. We are very positive that, as we work harder, we will be able to make the position clear, certainly. There has been a greater understanding of what we are trying to do in Zimbabwe and what the concerns are.

To take forward Zimbabwe for a moment, is there a risk that your continuing disagreement about the usefulness and effectiveness of sanctions may play into the hands of those still resisting change in Zimbabwe? A further question particularly for you, Mr President. You have talked about the need to accelerate the eradication of poverty within your own country, South Africa. Are you worried by the degree of disillusionment among many South Africans about the progress that has been made so far?

Firstly, on the issue of Zimbabwe, we have discussed that point clearly. If the Zimbabwean issue is not moving forward, certainly, some people could use sanctions as an excuse to say, Because we are sanctioned, how do we operate?’ As an example, Zimbabweans have said, Within the unity government, some ministers are able to travel all over the world. Others are not. They are restricted, so there is no equality in that kind of situation.’ These are matters we have talked about and that is why we have agreed to find ways and means to resolve the situation in Zimbabwe. Those who have applied sanctions are keen to see progress being made in Zimbabwe on the issues on the ground. These are matters we are working on.

With regard to South Africa, certainly, we are aware that we have to deal with a very major challenge in South Africa in terms of poverty, the bedrock that is there. We are doing everything we can as the government. Among what we have done is to change the manner in which the government does everything. On the issues of delivery, the issues that have been outstanding, we are addressing the issue of how slowly governments act at times. For example, we introduced measures for monitoring and evaluating performance, which is going to make the government work, to be able to look, monitor and evaluate everything that government does.

We have said 2010 is an action year and, certainly, we have very concrete plans to ensure that we will change the manner in which government operates. We would want to act differently and we have plans for that. In relation to the challenge of poverty, we believe we are ready to tackle it and make an impact.

Let me say that we applaud the efforts that President Zuma is making to being stability and change to Zimbabwe. We know that he has the support of SADC in the efforts that he is making. However, we must be absolutely sure that progress is being made and that is why the commissions on human rights, freedom of the press and governance are incredibly important to the future. We must be moving from what is a unity but transitional government to free and fair elections. There can be no excuses for delay in the creation of the commission and the completion of their work, which is vital to the future of Zimbabwe.

Prime Minister, I see here that the UK would support a permanent South African seat on the UN Security Council. One might be tempted to ask what the catch is there. Secondly, without undermining the substantive issues that have been discussed, I would ask if you were concerned also by the President Jacob Zuma’s response to the publicity that he received from the UK press.

Prime Minister, do you think the British public has a right to know why the killer of James Bulger has returned to prison? Your Home Secretary seems to think the public has a right to know. Your Justice Secretary does not. I wondered what your position was.

President Zuma, I wondered if you held by your comments on Britain’s colonial past, whether the British culture, as you said, is thinking that we are more superior to yours.

In answer to the first set of questions, may I say that we support Africa’s membership of the Security Council, which will be coming up in the next few months. We will do everything we can to help. We know how important South Africa is, as I have just described, to the working of the G20, Conference on Climate Change, and all our international efforts on nuclear proliferation. We know the important role South Africa plays within Africa. You can be sure that we are partners with South Africa in trying to move forward United Nations reform.

On the issue that you raised, what we are talking about is a totally abhorrent crime that happened some years ago that still rightly disgusts and offends the British people. I can completely understand the public outrage, even after so many years. However, the public knows that we cannot comment on individual cases that are going through the system and the Justice Secretary explained the particular constraints in this case. I want to be absolutely clear that what matters here is that the justice system is allowed to run its course and that justice is done, whatever wrongs are committed. The justice system must be allowed to take the action that is necessary. That is what people would expect and that is what is going to happen.

In regard to the question that came from both of you, it was in the context of how people judge other people’s cultures and who gave authority to others to just others, in general terms. This was a general term. If we talked about the media, it is not just the British media; it is the South African media as well that has views about specific issues. It was in that context that we made the point. We are not necessarily trying to condemn the British or whoever. I am sure you know that the colonial life in Africa has been viewed by Africans in a very particular way. We are sort of making a comment in that context.

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Press conference with President Zuma

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