SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI has finally conceded that his “quiet diplomacy” with Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, has failed, and that more aggressive negotiations are required. Although he has yet to make a public announcement to this effect, he has made such statements in private and the signs from South Africa now suggest that Mbeki will for the first time seriously consider breaking the taboo and taking Mugabe to task for the destruction of his own country. If he has the courage to do so he will likely be followed by other African leaders who know that investment in the region is being hampered by Mugabe–the only remaining post-colonial liberation leader.

Action is urgently required for the people of Zimbabwe. Its currency plunged to a record low against the dollar at last week’s foreign currency auction. The Zimbabwe dollar dived 23 percent to 24,025.31 to the U.S. dollar, driving the black market rate to near 45,000. An IMF team arrives today in Harare for talks with Mugabe ahead of a September 9 meeting to discuss the embattled country’s arrears and its future in the institution. The IMF, which delayed a decision on Zimbabwe’s future over arrears of $295 million, has repeatedly urged the government to take measures to let the market determine exchange rates.