VOA标准英语2009年-Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai Briefs South Africa

By Peta Thornycroft
South Africa
21 October 2009

 
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (file photo)
 
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has met South African President Jacob Zuma, the outgoing chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community, as part of his diplomatic shuttle through the region to brief leaders about why he has suspended contact with President Robert Mugabe.

South African President Jacob Zuma issued a statement, after his meeting with Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Cape² Town, saying he was concerned about the threat of political instability in Zimbabwe.

Mr. Tsvangirai broke off contact with President Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF last week because he said there was no progress in resolving outstanding issues of the year-old political agreement that led to formation of an inclusive government in February.

It was under Mr. Zuma's leadership of the Southern Africa Development Community the unity¹ government was formed. The Southern Africa Development Community and the African Union guaranteed the political agreement that Mr. Tsvangirai says is being breached³ by ZANU-PF on a daily basis.

Mr. Tsvangirai met Tuesday with Mozambique President Armando Guebuza, who leads SADC's troika on security, defense⁴ and politics.

According to South African officials, Prime Minister Tsvangirai told the South African president the troika will hold a meeting on the Zimbabwe situation next week.

President Zuma expressed concern about the political situation in Zimbabwe and said: "Zimbabwe should not be allowed to slide back into instability." He said the South African government is ready to help ensure there is full implementation⁵ of the political agreement.

Mr. Tsvangirai's officials in the Movement for Democratic Change said the prime minister is also hoping to meet other SADC leaders from Angola, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which now chairs SADC.

Mr. Mugabe has not responded to Mr. Tsvangirai's suspension of contact with him and his party. Mr. Mugabe chaired a Cabinet meeting Tuesday in Harare, but no ministers appointed by Mr. Tsvangirai attended.

Since formation of the unity government, political violence has reduced and the economy has stabilized⁶, but little Western aid for reconstruction⁷ and development has been released.

The European Union and the United States say aid will not be increased and restrictions⁸ against Mr. Mugabe and his party will not be lifted until the political agreement has been fulfilled.

 

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

3 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

6 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制