Why is South Africa so reluctant to take action on Zimbabwe?

Question

HRW, Amnesty, the US, the UK and it seems the whole global community want South Africa to intervene in Zimbabwe, but Mbeki seems so reluctant and is instead sticking to his 'quiet diplomacy' tactic and is even reluctant to outrightly condemn Mugabe's regime. If Mbeki wants South Africa to be seen as a major international power then surely this is not an issue that he can afford not to take action on?

What would be the best action for South Africa to take?

Answer 1

What's South Africa got to do with Zimbabwe?  They're two totally different Countries.

Answer 2

What the heck does South Africa have to do with Zimbabwe, these are two totally different countries. It's like saying why is the U.S. so reluctant on taking action on Mexico !!!

Answer 3

South Africa is having the world cup in less than 2 yrs, by letting Zim fall they r getting all the tourist from around the world, Zim is a better country when it comes to tourism and crime, so if Zim was to recover that would mean a large number of tourists would flock to Zim but if Zim was to fall under corruption, who would want to go??

Zim has the Victoria Falls, Kariba Dam, Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Matopo hills, Mount Inyanga etc and that is good for tourism

2ndly judging from Mbeki's actions, i think Mugabe is holding sumfin against him, around the time SA got its independence Mbeki's political party hid in Zim and there were many "things" that happened for Mbeki to come next inline after Mandela

Personally i think coz Zim helped SA through its hardest time, i beleive its time for payback!

Answer 4

  If they were to intervene there it would be extremely hard, most likely a war would start and South Africa probably would win and liberate Zimbabwe. But after that rebuilding the country which inflation is so bad that bread cost 200,000 Zimbabwe dollars, it will be hard just to rebuild stuff they destroyed from the war. Also after that rebuilding themselves from the war and then helping improve Zimbabwe's economy while making sure theirs continues to improve. So basically it is to much of a risk for their country, because they could cave in because of it.