CAPE TOWN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- South African Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday urged their government to support Zimbabwe in a way that will guarantee social, economic and political stability in the neighboring country.
The MPs also called on Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to provide strategic assistance to all stakeholders in Zimbabwe if so requested following the resignation of President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
Committee Chairperson Siphosezwe Masango said the impact of Mugabe's resignation will be realized once celebrations have died down, and that the Committee hoped that regional bodies like the SADC and the African Union (AU) as well as the United Nations (UN) will be able to provide collaborative and comprehensive assistance if called upon.
"The departure of President Mugabe marks the end of an era, and inaugurates an opportunity for Zimbabweans to collectively attend to their social, economic, and political challenges following the resignation of President Robert Mugabe," Masango said.
The Committee congratulates the people of Zimbabwe for guaranteeing the safety of Mugabe, and the matured and relatively peaceful way in which this transition is being handled, said Masango.
Also on Wednesday, Parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said Mugabe's resignation should assist with the peaceful transition to a new leadership.
In a related development on Wednesday, the MPs heard that the South African government has not received a formal request for asylum from Mugabe.
Briefing the MPs on the latest developments in Zimbabwe, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Luwellyn Landers said "there is no indication if he (Mugabe) or anyone else has requested asylum" in South Africa, dismissing rumors circulated in social media that Mugabe has or would request asylum in South Africa.
